A pungent smell of gas started affecting areas of Haina at 2:00pm on Sunday, becoming worse throughout the night and into the morning hours of Monday, when it could be felt over most areas of the southern National District and western Santo Domingo. According to Diario Libre, dozens of people were hospitalized and classes were suspended in some schools as contradictory explanations were offered for the smell. Yesterday afternoon, the Ministry of Environment stated that the leak had come from the Dominican Petroleum Refinery (REFIDOMSA). Dozens of indisposed children from Fernando Arturo de Merino, Apec, Elvira de Mendoza, Calasanz and Quisqueya schools were taken different medical centers for treatment. These schools suspended classes, as did Loyola, Las Mercedes, La Gacela and Ivan Guzman Klang schools. Approximately 40 people suffering from respiratory difficulties were hospitalized by the National Emergency Commission (CNE). The Gringo neighborhood in Haina was in a state of chaos. The medical center did not have electricity to treat patients and one of the physicians fainted. The center’s director, Catalino Bido, stayed on duty although she was nauseous and vomited twice, was suffering from fatigue and headaches, symptoms she said were consistent with intoxication. Yesterday morning, contradictory versions were being offered by Industry and Commerce Minister Francisco Javier Castillo and Refidomsa President Aristides Fernandez Zucco. The former identified the source of the gas leak as Refidomsa whereas the latter was denying his institution had anything to do with the problem. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment confirmed that the smell of methyl mercaptan that affected large areas of Santo Domingo and Haina yesterday morning had come from Refidomsa. According to the Assistant Director of Environmental Management Zoila Gonzalez, a group of technicians is carrying out an investigation in the area where the chemical substance is kept at Refidomsa. It is a 500-gallon tank but the exact amount of the gas that escaped could not be determined. According to Gonzalez, it must have been significant as the smell of this gas is imperceptible in small quantities. A source at Refidomsa confirmed to Diario Libre that the tank was being cleaned early on Monday morning. The source denied the Ministry of Environment’s explanations stating the amount of methyl mercaptan in the tank when it was washed does not explain the smell that enveloped Santo Domingo. A CNE commission is investigating whether there was malpractice or a lack of compliance with procedures for the management of cases like this.
Listin Diario reports that the Director of Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Environment, Manuel Vasquez Tieno, explained that methyl mercaptan is used as an odorizing agent in LGP so people can easily detect leaks at their home installations. He explained that one part of the substance can spread over 50 million parts of air, and this caused the smell that covered the city. When questioned by Listin Diario, Armed Forces Minister Admiral Sigfrido Pared Perez said there was negligence from the people in charge of washing a 400-gallon tank who did not realize that tropical storm Alpha had reversed the winds which normally flow from land to sea. The landward flow of the winds caused the vapor to cover the city.
El Caribe reports that Refidomsa Operations Manager, Alfredo Nara said that they are collaborating with the investigations commission and that a press conference would be held today at 9:00 am to provide more details about the case. The tank where the substance is kept had not been cleaned in 30 years.