Large train disaster in Ukraine!

[Shadow]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6902574.stm
According to other reports (in Dutch) a large area has been contaminated with phosphor. I hope nobody here will be directly affected by this disaster.

[viking]

More. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070717/ap_on_re_eu/ukraine_contamination

[Wayne B]

I don't understand how the Deputy Prime Minister could compare this to Chernobyl

[Shadow]

Probably because a large area has been contaminated and the government wil have to provide the people living there with food, water and other supplies or risk their death.
Even if the time the area is unusable will not be as long, the operation needed to keep the people from harm is enormous when you think of the logistics of the Ukraine countryside.

[tim 360]

Does not look good. I would call it a disaster.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1644008,00.html

[Wayne B]

If we were told the chemical make up of this particular phosphorus....then one could conclude wether it to be a long lasting effect on the environment or a short term effect on the environment......One thing that may have hampered the dilution was to put the fire out....let it burn....mother nature will take care of the rest.....without phosphorus, all living things would cease to live....to much and yes...all living things would cease to live....If this phosphorus is of an ester compound...then there is much more to be concerned about...