Benzene clean-up operation to be costlier than expected

The damage to the environment from the toxic benzene spill in Hustopeče nad Bečvou in the Přerov region will exceed several fold the originally estimated CZK 100 million, according to the Czech Environmental Inspectorate. The final amount will depend on the extent of sanitation measures needed to clean up the environment, the inspectorate said. Further damage amounting to CZK 125 million to the infrastructure and the train remains the same, Railway Inspectorate spokesman Martin Drápal told the Czech Press Agency.

Firefighters pumped tons of toxic benzene from the damaged tanks of a freight train that derailed and caught fire near Hustopeče nad Bečvou in the Přerov region at the beginning of March. The spill affected the local water reservoir and contaminated the soil.