The government on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in connection with the leakage of hazardous substances at the Bukoza plant in the village of Hencovce (Košice region) that will apply as of noon on Wednesday (March 18) in Vranov nad Toplou district (Prešov region) and in Michalovce and Trebišov districts (both Košice region).
The Interior Ministry, which proposed the measure, stressed that it is aimed at minimising the potential risks and threats while also optimising the conditions for effectively managing further clean-up operations, along with providing effective inter-departmental cooperation.
"This also applies to providing strategic communication regarding the proposed measures for handling the emergency," added the ministry.
Following the immediate danger caused by the leakage of hazardous substances from various sources at the former pulp mill site, the authorities in Vranov nad Toplou declared an emergency for the district on 18 February, while immediately launching clean-up operations. By the end of February, the situation had been stabilised and further seepage of hazardous substances prevented.
At the beginning of March, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas -SD) stated that the Fire and Rescue Corps had performed a total of 11 interventions to counter the leaking of black liquor at the Bukoza site in Hencovce. He added that three criminal proceedings concerning environmental crimes and water-protection violations are pending with the police.
In addition, there has been a significant increase in property crime on the company's premises, prompting the police to organise a large-scale operation against looting. The police deployed more than 80 officers using drones and thermal imaging equipment. Since March, the site has been guarded.
Source: TASR
