[Imc-newsroom] Fwd: FRENCH CHEMICAL DISASTER

[Peter Miller]

>From: ICEM at GEO2.POPTEL.ORG.UK
>Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 14:42:33
>Subject: FRENCH CHEMICAL DISASTER
>To: ICEM-PUB at POPTEL.Poptel.org.uk, ICEM-MB-AFF at POPTEL.Poptel.org.uk,
>         ICEM-FAX-AFF at POPTEL.Poptel.org.uk, ICEM-ITS at POPTEL.Poptel.org.uk,
>         ITS-BBS at GEO2.POPTEL.ORG.UK
>
>ICEM UPDATE
>
>No. 67/2001
>
>21 September 2001
>
>
>The following is from the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, 
>Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM):
>
>
>MANY DEAD AND INJURED IN FRENCH CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
>
>
>A fertiliser plant in the French city of Toulouse exploded this morning. 
>The toll is provisionally put at 15 dead and 200 injured, of whom about 80 
>are in a very serious condition.
>
>The blast happened at about 10.15 local time at the AZF chemical plant, 
>owned by TotalFinaElf. The factory made fertilisers.
>
>There is still some confusion over whether a second explosion occurred at 
>an adjacent plant which produces rocket fuel and explosives. French 
>chemical unions understand that the victims of the disaster include two 
>workers at the fuel plant. However, most reports suggest that there has 
>been only one explosion so far - at the fertiliser factory.
>
>The cause of the blast is unknown. There is so far no particular reason to 
>suppose that it was other than accidental.
>
>Workers at the AZF plant include members of the chemical unions Fedechimie 
>CGT-FO and FCE-CFDT. Both unions are anxiously awaiting more news of the 
>disaster. Communication by both landline and mobile phones between 
>Toulouse and Paris is very difficult at present. As soon as the unions 
>have further independent information, ICEM UPDATE will issue another report.
>
>Both unions are affiliated to the 20-million-strong International 
>Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions. In 
>messages to FCE-CFDT General Secretary Jacques Kheliff and Fedechimie 
>General Secretary Michel Decayeux, the ICEM's General Secretary Fred Higgs 
>has expressed the international's shock and sorrow over the disaster. On 
>behalf of ICEM-affiliated workers worldwide, Higgs pledged full support 
>and solidarity to the French chemical workers.
>
>A cloud containing toxic chemicals, including ammonia, is reported to be 
>spreading across Toulouse. Both the mayor and French President Jacques 
>Chirac have asked the people of the city to remain indoors. French Prime 
>Minister Lionel Jospin is on his way to the scene of the disaster.
>
>_________________
>
>
>ICEM UPDATE is available in English, Russian and Spanish. Individual news 
>items can be supplied in other languages on request.
>
>Our print magazines ICEM INFO and ICEM GLOBAL are published in English, 
>French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.
>
>Visit us on the Net at http://www.icem.org
>
>ICEM
>avenue Emile de Beco 109, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
>tel.+32.2.6262020   fax +32.2.6484316
>e-mail: info at icem.org
>
>Editor: Ian Graham, Information Officer
>
>Publisher: Fred Higgs, General Secretary.
>
>
>[end]