Pfas Contamination: Toxic Foam Escapes from Factory in Waregem

The Pfas Incident in Waregem

In a dramatic incident, toxic foam containing Pfas escaped from a fire extinguishing system at the Matco chemical plant, inundating the streets of Waregem, a city in West Flanders.

Details of the Event

• A malfunction in the automatic fire suppression system led to a significant release of foam.
• The foam covered a large portion of Textielstraat, necessitating its closure to traffic.
• First responders were on the scene, dealing with respiratory issues experienced by an employee.

Emergency Response and Monitoring

1. Specialized teams were deployed to clean the roadway and prevent soil contamination.
2. Environmental authorities and Aquafin have been notified.
3. Sample collection is underway to assess potential contamination.