Date: Tue, 22 Aug 95 05:56:48 EDT

From: Emergency Information Administrator 

Subject: Guyana: Chemical Spill  DHA-01







                INFORMATION REPORT NO.1 - GUYANA

                    CYANIDE MINE WASTE SPILL



1. A TAILINGS DAM AT THE OMAI GOLD MINE BREACHED ON SATURDAY

NIGHT, RELEASING UP TO 100,000 CUBIC METRES PER HOUR OF WASTE

CONTAINING CYANIDE.  THE TOXIC WASTE ENTERED THE OMAI RIVER

BEFORE FLOWING INTO THE ESSEQUIBO RIVER, THE MAJOR RIVER IN THE

COUNTRY WHICH IS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR DRINKING WATER AND FISHING.

THE PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAHO) REPORTS THAT CYANIDE

CONCENTRATIONS IN THE OMAI RIVER WAS 5.42 PPM AND RISING AS OF 21

AUGUST.  THE UNDP OFFICE REPORTS THAT AQUATIC LIFE IN THE OMAI

RIVER AND PARTS OF THE ESSE QUIBO RIVER HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY

IMPACTED.



2. THE GUYANA GEOLOGY AND MINES COMMISSION DEFINED THE ACCIDENT

AS THE WORST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER TO HIT THE COUNTRY.  ALL MINING

OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN.



3. THE UNDP OFFICE REPORTS THAT ATTEMPTS ARE BEING MADE BY THE

CANADIAN OWNERS OF THE MINE TO STEM THE FLOW AND THAT COMMUNITIES

DOWN STREAM OF THE POLLUTION ARE BEING WARNED NOT TO USE WATER

FROM THE RIVER.  OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTING DRINKING WATER

TO AFFECTED COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANT TOWN OF BARTICA.



4. THE UNDP OFFICE REPORTS THAT THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE

EMERGENCY IS BEING COORDINATED BY THE ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT ON

ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR. NAVIN CHANDERPAL AND

MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. HARRIPERSAUD NOKTA.



5. NO SPECIFIC REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS YET BEEN

RECEIVED BY DHA.  THE ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE

ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA, UK AND USA HAVE BEEN INFORMED.



6. ENVIRONMENT CANADA REPORT THAT THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH THEIR

EMBASSY IN GEORGETOWN AND ARE ASSESSING THE BEST COURSE OF

ACTION.



                  + DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS =



TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917.12.34

EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY): +41-22-917.20.10



DESK OFFICER: MR. GERARD LE CLAIRE DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917.11.73

PRESS TO CONTACT:  MRS.  MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL:

+41-22-917.28.56



TELEX: 414242 DHA CH

FAX: +41-22-917.00.23

ELECTRONIC MAIL: DHAGVA AT UN.ORG



DPR 310 GUY





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