Leakage of hazardous substance at BP in Rotterdam, two employees injured...

At BP Refinery Rotterdam (BPRR) in the Rotterdam port area, a leak of a very dangerous substance occurred on Saturday evening, the safety region reports. Two employees of the company were injured, but there would be no danger to the immediate surroundings.

It would be a leak of hydrogen fluoride. Dozens of firefighters have used water screens to prevent the dangerous substance from spreading outside the company premises.

The leak occurred around 11.45 pm on the d’Arcyweg in the Rotterdam port area of ​​Europoort. Two employees were injured in the spill. One of them had to be transported to hospital, the second was treated on the spot.

The leak was under control around 3.30 am and the firefighters were able to leave. “The company can now handle it further itself,” said a spokesperson for the security region. There was no danger to the immediate environment, the spokesman said.

A BP spokesperson said that it is still unclear how the leak originated. According to the spokesperson, the escaped substance is hydrogen fluoride. That substance is used “to make gasoline”, according to the BP information officer. According to the safety region, hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen fluoride are different names for the same type of substance.

Hydrogen fluoride has an acidic odor and is dangerous even in small amounts. On contact with the skin, the substance eats down to the bone, without immediate pain being felt.