MANAUS, BRAZIL – Firefighters in the Brazilian Amazon continued cooling one of the styrene storage tanks at a factory in Manaus on Thursday (July 16) after a leak involving the flammable and toxic chemical.

According to the Amazonas State Fire Department, vapors from the chemical are still being released, although at a lower intensity than on Wednesday (July 15), as crews work to stabilize the temperature of the storage tanks.

Styrene is a chemical used in the production of plastics and rubber. When heated, it can evaporate and produce strong-smelling vapors. Exposure may cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as symptoms including headaches, dizziness and nausea.

The Amazonas State Health Department said 107 people were treated in the public healthcare system in connection with the incident. Of those, 104 were discharged, while three remained hospitalized.

The incident occurred at about 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday (July 15) in one of chemical manufacturer Innova's three styrene monomer storage tanks. According to the company, the product experienced an abnormal temperature increase, triggering the release of vapors through the tank's built-in safety devices.

According to the Fire Department, the tank's safety system was activated to prevent an explosion. Although the leak was limited to a single storage tank, firefighters are cooling all three tanks at the facility as a precaution.

Amazon Agency