After people had noticed a strong irritating smell and immediate impairment of the respiratory tract after a goods train had passed through Bischofshofen station, the train was stopped at St. Johann im Pongau station. A danger area was set up, but no damage was found to the wagon. Train traffic was interrupted for hours.
The forces assumed “during the course of the investigation that the substance ‘methyl acrylate’ had escaped from a wagon”, an easily flammable and highly irritating substance, as the Pongau fire brigade announced on its website. Six people were treated for irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract in the Schwarzach hospital, but did not have to be hospitalized.
The St. Johann, Bischofshofen and Schwarzach fire brigades were on site with around 110 emergency services and 34 vehicles. They were supported, among others, by ÖBB specialists and the “Chemistry and Environmental Technology” department of the State of Salzburg. A cinema and a restaurant had been evacuated because of the unclear risk situation. The operation ended at midnight.
Source: Nachrichten
