By V. E. K. Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Authorities Urge Public to Avoid Area and Report Missing Containers
Kenyan officials have issued an urgent appeal for assistance in locating containers of a highly toxic chemical looted from an overturned lorry near Nairobi. Sodium cyanide, which is lethal if ingested or inhaled even in small amounts, also poses a significant environmental threat, health officials have warned.
The lorry overturned late on Saturday on the busy Nairobi Nakuru highway, approximately 35km (22 miles) from Nairobi. In a common occurrence in Kenya, looters quickly descended on the scene, taking several containers of the dangerous chemical.
The government has urged the public to avoid the area while the US embassy has advised its citizens to take a detour. The spillage has created a hazardous situation, with the national environmental agency cautioning against contact with the white pellet like substance and urging immediate reporting to the nearest police station if the containers are found.
Kenya's health ministry has stressed that sodium cyanide should only be handled by individuals equipped with protective gear. The chemical disrupts oxygen utilization, leading to rapid death if ingested or inhaled in high doses. Symptoms of exposure include headache, dizziness, rapid breathing, nausea, vomiting, and convulsions. Furthermore, sodium cyanide can contaminate soil and groundwater, persisting in the environment and potentially accumulating in the food chain.
Sodium cyanide is commonly used in fumigation, gold and silver extraction, and chemical manufacturing, as noted by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Local media reported that while some looters took containers of the chemical, others left empty handed upon realizing the substance was not useful to them.
The cause of the lorry's overturning remains unclear, and the authorities have not provided details about the driver’s condition.
