CBRN event in United Kingdom on Sun 11th August 2024

Major incident declared after Walsall chemical spill revealed to be potentially fatal sodium cyanide

A wide area of the canal network from the Walsall locks to Perry Barr locks in Birmingham, Ryders Green locks in West Bromwich, and Rishall locks, also in Walsall, have been declared no go zones after the sodium cyanide discovery

 A ‘major incident’ has been declared after a toxic chemical spill into a Walsall canal has ben revealed as a potentially fatal compound. Walsall Council has confirmed agencies from the West Midlands Local Resilience Forum are treating the spill, which took place on Sunday (August 11) in the Pleck area of the borough, as a major incident.

That means an ‘event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements’. The substance that got into the canal has been confirmed as sodium cyanide and has resulting in dead fish being found in the water.

Sodium and potassium cyanide are both used in industry for metal cleaning, plating and extraction and photography. But if ingested it can release cyanide in the body.

According to a Public Health England (now part of the UK Health Security Agency) document, that can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, nervousness, confusion, changes in heart rate and drowsiness.

It can also cause loss of consciousness, fitting, vomiting and low blood pressure. In the most serious cases there will be coma, heart and breathing problems and death Public Health England said.

Walsall Council confirmed it was notified by the Environment Agency of the spillage in the canal between Spinks Bridge, Walsall down to Birchills Street Bridge.

Since then the area affected has been widened to include the Walsall lock flight, to the lock flights at Rushall in Walsall, Ryders Green in West Bromwich and Perry Barr in Birmingham. Members of the public have been told to avoid both going in the canals and along the canal towpaths in those areas.

A spokesperson fort Walsall Council said: “Agencies across the West Midland Local Resilience Forum are treating the chemical spillage into a canal in Walsall as a major incident, with a multi-agency response.

“The spillage from a site in Walsall is being investigated. As it has gone into the canal in Walsall, as a precautionary measure, we are asking the public to avoid an extended area of the canal and towpaths from the Walsall lock flight to the lock flights at Rushall/Ryders Green and Perry Barr (see map).

“We can confirm the Environment Agency has developed a testing regime to test the water for sodium cyanide and other chemicals. Sodium cyanide dissolves in water and can have serious adverse health effects for those who come into direct physical contact with it.

“There is a potential serious risk to health if you or your pets are exposed (direct physical contact with the water) in the affected stretch of the canal. Anyone who has been exposed (direct physical contact) along the affected stretch of canal water and is feeling unwell, should seek health advice via 111 or 999 in an emergency.

“We have identified an area of canals to test and hope to be able to reduce the impacted area as soon as possible.”

The Canal and Rivers Trust West Midlands posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said: "We were informed yesterday about a serious pollution incident on the Walsall Canal in the Pleck area, in which a significant amount of a toxic chemical had been discharged into the water.

"The navigation and towpath is closed around the Walsall area so we can contain the spill. This includes Walsall, Ryders Green, Rushall & Perry Barr Lock Flight. Public health advice issued by Walsall Council advises people to stay away and avoid all towpaths around the canal as contact with the spill poses a serious risk to public health."

Councillor Garry Perry, Leader of Walsall Council, said: "Our priority is the safety of our residents. I share their concerns and hope to see this incident resolved as soon as possible. We are working closely with our partners to manage this situation which has been declared a major incident. For your own safety please avoid this area of the canal and its towpaths.”