Caribbean Net News: School in Suriname closed after discovery of toxic gas

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A school compound in Suriname's capital Paramaribo was closed by the authorities Monday after the discovery of toxic gas in rusted tanks that were in danger of leaking.

The 16 tanks containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were discovered Monday morning in a lab on the compound of the Institute for Physics and Technology, which houses four different schools.

According to Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry Slijngaard, director of the National Coordination Centre for Disaster Management (NCCR), the tanks have been there in storage for 20 years. The gas was a donation to the school for research purposes, but the intended research programme was never executed and the gas forgotten.

As a precaution the compound was abandoned Monday and then sealed off. Armed soldiers and fire fighters are currently guarding the premises. Classes have been postponed or moved to another campus of the college in the same area, while some 1,400 students were ordered to stay home for the time being.

At a press meeting, Slijngaard informed that there is no indication of any leakage and that all necessary steps are being taken to prevent any foul play with the gas.

The authorities meanwhile have called in assistance from experts from the United States of America and the United Nations to safely remove the tanks and destroy the gas. The experts are due to arrive in Paramaribo this week.

�Operations to remove the containers and destroy the gas in a safe, controlled and responsible way are already in progress,� said Slijngaard. He said that there is no reason for panic.

According to Dave Abeleven, director of the physics college, the gas and accompanying measuring instruments were a donation for a deposit research project.

Hydrogen sulfide is a common gas used in the chemical, rubber, paper industry and several other industrial applications. This gas emits an odour like rotten eggs and, if inhaled in high concentrations, can be fatal. Inhaling hydrogen sulfide in light concentrations can cause irritation of eyes, lungs and throat, dizziness, headache and amnesia.

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