A tower has collapsed at a chemical manufacturing plant in Sydney’s east after structural issues, with emergency services earlier evacuating the immediate area.
NSW Fire and Rescue evacuated a 800 metre radius of Denison Street in Banksmeadow while working to move “highly flammable” hydrogen cylinders at the base of the tower.
Qenos chemical manufacture staff were undertaking a controlled burn but called emergency crews when they became concerned about the structural integrity of the tower at 9.15am.
The concerns meant they had to burn off flammable gas instead of releasing it.
“When they (emergency services) arrived, flames were emitting approximately 50 metres above one of the 70 metre tall exhaust stacks,” NSW Fire and Rescue said in a statement.
“It was quickly established staff had already enacted an emergency shutdown of the plant, and were undertaking a controlled burn within the stack to stop the flow of gas, predominantly ethylene.”
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Firefighters left the situation for the company’s onsite technicians but returned when staff noticed “significant structural damage to timber which was reinforcing the cooling tower”.
“FRNSW currently has significant resources on-scene including local fire crews, HAZMAT teams, and technical rescue experts who specialise in structural collapse.”
Drones are being used to assist emergency service crews in monitoring the situation.
”Plans have now been formulated to safely remove the hydrogen cylinders to eliminate risk to the public.
“As a precautionary measure, an evacuation order has been issued for people and local traffic within 800 metres of the tower.”
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