Asbestos alarm in Hamm: cool tower fire ensures evacuations!

Asbestos alarm in Hamm: cool tower fire ensures evacuations!

A dramatic fire in the Hamm cooling tower caused excitement on Monday afternoon! Asbestos -containing fragments that flake off the cladding of the cooling tower were discovered - some as large as coins! These dangerous particles have not only been found on the colliery site, but also in an adjacent residential area.

in close cooperation with the mountain supervision and the RAG Aktiengesellschaft, seven particularly affected houses and land were immediately blocked. The residents - 20 adults and four children - had to move into emergency accommodation on Tuesday, while the city of Hamm told them that return was possible at the earliest at the beginning of next week. The Situation remains tense, because although the first rehearsals from the interior of the affected houses were negative, this is not enough for a safe return. An expert has made it clear that more comprehensive air samples are necessary, which is why samples are taken from every room.

school and the surrounding area affected

The situation continues to escalate: On Thursday, asbestos-containing fragments were also discovered at a greater distance from the colliery site, which led to the immediate closure of the Lessing primary school. The students have to learn in distance lessons until further notice, while the area has to be cleaned. The city has placed the highest priority on the cleaning of houses, land as well as sidewalks and roads to ensure the safety of the residents.

The city of Hamm has already received further reports about fragments from a further distant forest settlement. In order to clarify the situation, the RAG has set up a telephone where residents can report possible finds. The city intensively advises against acting - residues should be photographed and reported in order to evaluate the danger situation as soon as possible.