Japan: Locals warned after cat dives into chemical vat
In Fukuyama, western Japan, residents are on high alert as a cat goes missing after taking a dip in a vat of dangerous chemicals at a metal plating plant.
An ordinary day at the plant took a surreal twist when an employee stumbled upon paw prints leading away from the container, revealing the daring escape of the furry culprit.
Surveillance footage, albeit grainy, captured the elusive cat making a speedy exit from the factory, seemingly unscathed. However, lurking beneath the surface of the vat lay a mix of hexavalent chromium, known for its carcinogenic properties and potential to cause skin inflammation.
Speaking on behalf of the company, a representative stated that the police, residents of Fukuyama City, and neighbours near the factory were immediately alerted.
“This incident serves as a wake-up call for us to implement measures preventing small animals like cats from sneaking in, a scenario we had never envisaged.”
With concerns mounting, city authorities issued a stern warning to locals, advising against approaching or attempting to handle the potentially contaminated feline, reported Thai PBS World.
They urged residents to promptly notify the authorities if they encounter the cat.
As of this afternoon, no sightings of the adventurous cat have been reported.
In related news, a chemical warehouse fire in Phachi, Ayutthaya, prompted a swift evacuation as toxic fumes spread. A blaze broke out in a warehouse illegally storing chemicals on February 29 at around 10.30pm, necessitating an urgent response from fire services due to ongoing explosions and noxious odours.
The Phachi Municipality Facebook page advised residents within a 5-kilometre radius to evacuate immediately, wear masks, and seek open spaces to avoid the widespread smoke.
In other news, Electricity Generating (EGCO), the power generation subsidiary of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), plans to utilise its petrochemical operations in Indonesia to foster clean energy development, focusing on hydrogen fuel.
