Large quantities of toxic liquid that spilled into the river Spreča from the landfill of the soda factory near Lukavac, not far from Tuzla, on Friday could reach the Sava River via the Bosna River, experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina warned on Saturday.
After the dam broke yesterday afternoon, a basic liquid (pH 12) spilled from the landfill of the “Sisecam Soda” factory, contaminating the local river Spreča and surrounding land.
“We appeal to the population, especially well owners along the Bosna River, not to use water from that river until the relevant teams arrive on site and take water samples,” said Željko Stojanović, spokesperson for the Republic Administration of Civil Protection of the Republic of Srpska, in a statement to the entity’s news agency (SRNA).
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He explained that the water contaminated with toxic substances that spilled into the river Spreča from the Lukavac plant could naturally flow through Spreča to the Bosna River, and then to the Sava River.
Meanwhile, inspectors from federal and inspection services of Tuzla Canton are taking new water samples from the river Spreča.
According to initial estimates, ten hectares of agricultural land along the river have also been contaminated with toxic chemicals.
