12:49 Clean-up continues after pipeline leak

Emerency workers in Belarus are pushing with efforts to eliminate the aftermath of the accident on the Russian fuel pipeline in the northern Belarus. According to Vital Navicki, the spokesman for the Belarus's Ministry for Emergencies, a total of 112 workers and 76 pieces of equipment are involved in the clean-up effort. On April 3, four tons of absorbing powder were dispersed on the banks of River Ula within the distance of 4 km, he said. A total of 1200 sq.m. of the banks and water surfaces have already been cleaned.


The emergency officials said nobody was injured and fish remained healthy after the accident. The government continues monitoring the contamination level and is calculating material and environmental damages. Belarus said earlier that it would seek compensation from the Russian pipeline operator, ZapadTransNefteProdukt.

Almost 120 tons of diesel fuel was leaked on March 23 when the accident occurred in the Vicebsk region of Belarus.