A leaking barrel set a hall of the Nijhof Wassink company in Coevorden in smoke on Saturday afternoon and caused a stench. The fire department rushed to put the barrel in a safe place.
It concerns a so-called IBC vessel (intermediate bulk container), which is used for the storage and transport of liquids. It is not clear what exactly was in it. “In any case, it contained different substances,” says Dirk van Dijken of the Drenthe Safety Region (VRD).
According to the municipality of Coevorden, there was no danger to the environment. “We have not yet spoken to the company, but we can say that we do not have to intervene at the moment. On Monday we will do further checks together with the fire brigade to see what exactly is going on,” said a spokesman for the municipality.
Nijhof Wassink provides international bulk transport by road, rail and water for producers and suppliers in the chemical industry and the animal feed industry.
No one at the company could be reached for comment on Saturday.