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| Kenyans ill in 'toxic waste' leak | Kenyans ill in 'toxic waste' leak |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people near the Kenyan port of Mombasa say they have become ill after a consignment of leaking chemical containers was dumped nearby. | Hundreds of people near the Kenyan port of Mombasa say they have become ill after a consignment of leaking chemical containers was dumped nearby. |
| Witnesses told the BBC that the drums were abandoned at Kipevu near the port about a month ago by a truck driver who had noticed liquid seeping out. | Witnesses told the BBC that the drums were abandoned at Kipevu near the port about a month ago by a truck driver who had noticed liquid seeping out. |
| The Mombasa environmental officer says the drums have traces of nitric acid. | |
| A BBC reporter in Mombasa says two women living in a Kipevu slum have complained of having miscarriages. | A BBC reporter in Mombasa says two women living in a Kipevu slum have complained of having miscarriages. |
| Other slum residents have also complained of breathing difficulties, stomach upsets and chest pains. | Other slum residents have also complained of breathing difficulties, stomach upsets and chest pains. |
| I had gone to relieve myself in the toilet, while there but was hit by a strong fume Kibibi, slum resident who miscarried | I had gone to relieve myself in the toilet, while there but was hit by a strong fume Kibibi, slum resident who miscarried |
| The BBC's Odhiambo Joseph says he also experienced breathing difficulties and a stomach upset after visiting the area. | The BBC's Odhiambo Joseph says he also experienced breathing difficulties and a stomach upset after visiting the area. |
| Apparently a yellow liquid and noxious fumes have been escaping from the two 20-foot containers. | |
| The National Environmental Management Agency (Nema) says it has brought in tonnes of sand and other agents to try to neutralise the spill. | The National Environmental Management Agency (Nema) says it has brought in tonnes of sand and other agents to try to neutralise the spill. |
| Latrines | |
| Nassir Rashid, the director of environment at the Mombasa Municipal Council (MMC), says samples of the chemicals have been sent to the government chemist for identification. | |
| But he says the chemicals are extremely toxic and more than 1,500 villagers have been treated for various illnesses caused by the chemicals. | |
| Morris Otieno from Nema said an operation to neutralise the chemicals has been successful, but our reporter says the effects are still being felt and one container is still leaking. | |
| The chemical cargo was on its way from Mombasa port to a mining company in western Uganda when it was dumped. | The chemical cargo was on its way from Mombasa port to a mining company in western Uganda when it was dumped. |
| The MMC has ordered the company to appear in court to answer charges of environmental pollution, our correspondent says. | |
| The company says an agent in Mombasa is dealing with the case. | The company says an agent in Mombasa is dealing with the case. |
| The chemicals are also said to be destroying property, corroding the metal sheets used to build houses and melting anything made of plastic. | The chemicals are also said to be destroying property, corroding the metal sheets used to build houses and melting anything made of plastic. |
| According to residents in the slum - known as Kalahari Village - the acid seems to have entered the latrine systems. | According to residents in the slum - known as Kalahari Village - the acid seems to have entered the latrine systems. |
| Kibibi, whose house was near the chemical spill, alleges she miscarried as a result. | Kibibi, whose house was near the chemical spill, alleges she miscarried as a result. |
| "It was a three-month-old pregnancy. I had gone to relieve myself in the toilet, while there but was hit by a strong fume," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "It was a three-month-old pregnancy. I had gone to relieve myself in the toilet, while there but was hit by a strong fume," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| "I quickly gathered myself up and ran back towards my room but I could not manage - I fell down and I started bleeding immediately." | "I quickly gathered myself up and ran back towards my room but I could not manage - I fell down and I started bleeding immediately." |
| Residents say their livestock has also been affected and some of the animals have died. |