A major evacuation, commensurate with the risk. At midday on Thursday, around 230 people, including 140 children, were urgently evacuated from the Belzunce comprehensive school, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, due to an accidental spill of mercury on the ground. Around fifty firefighters were mobilized to the scene.
According to the mayor of the 10th arrondissement, Alexandra Cordebard (PS), an abnormally high percentage of mercury vapor was detected in the school a few days earlier. The cabinet located in a classroom and containing the chemical was quickly identified and therefore had to be emptied and decontaminated on Wednesday November 6. “We brought in a specialist service provider. But the measurements taken the next day were even higher than before and a trail of mercury had been spilled on the ground by the speaker,” indicates the councilor.
An emergency evacuation procedure was immediately initiated. “It lasted all afternoon because we had to disinfect the shoes of all the children and ensure that their clothes were not contaminated,” describes Alexandra Cordebard. After passing through this inspection chamber, the 230 students and supervisors had to put on shoe covers so as not to walk barefoot, before being taken care of in the neighboring Saint-Vincent-de-Paul church, opened especially for them. .
According to the firefighters, “no contamination was noted” and only one minor casualty was reported. “One person had vagal discomfort, but it is not linked to mercury vapors,” they say. The children were then able to return home.
The town hall of the 10th arrondissement commissioned a cleaning company which began its diagnosis the very evening of the evacuation. “We will have more details this Friday or tomorrow, but we hope to be able to reopen the school next Tuesday,” adds the councilor. In the meantime, the establishment remains completely closed to the public and children who cannot be looked after are welcomed into the Chabrol nursery and primary schools, located nearby.
According to doctors, exposure to mercury is “safe” and “the risks to children are quite minimal.” But Alexandra Cordebard remains no less indignant. “This is unacceptable. No one could have imagined that a specialized company would make such an intolerable error, condemns the elected official. Fortunately, on Wednesday there are very few students. » No additional examination of children was recommended.
The mayor of the 10th does not intend to stop there. “The district town hall as well as the City wish to obtain all possible clarifications and we intend to pursue the company in question. An investigation by the judicial police and an administrative investigation will be opened,” she indicates.
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