Unanswered questions after arson attack at Durban pesticide warehouse and toxic air cloud
by Tony Carnie, Daily Maverick
July 19, 2021
Unanswered questions after arson attack at Durban pesticide warehouse and toxic air cloud
by Tony Carnie, Daily Maverick July 19, 2021 Thousands of Durban residents woke to the overpowering stench of burning chemicals almost a week ago, when arsonists and looters set fire to a massive warehouse containing toxic pesticides and chemical products owned by the Mumbai-based chemicals giant UPL.
The Indian multinational group was set up in 1969 as United Phosphorus Limited by chemist Rajju Shroff and now boasts that it is the fifth biggest agrochemical company in the world (after Bayer, Dupont, Syngenta and BASF) with annual revenue of $5.04-billion
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Tests are being run to determine the level of pollution from the UPL Chemical Plant in Cornubia, Durban.
The agricultural plant was torched on July 12, during a wave of looting and unrest in the area.
Following the burning of the factory, toxic discharge has flown into the Durban North beaches resulting in dead fish.
The eThekwini Municipality has also closed all Durban North beaches as a precaution.
Residents living near Cornubia and Umhlanga have also complained of unbearable toxic smells entering their homes.
In a statement released on Saturday, UPL South Africa said it is unknown at this stage how toxic the pollution is. UPL said there were several fires set off in the area so they are possibly not the only source of the toxic fumes.