Chlorine leak holds up Piarco flights

The leak sprung from the Water and Sewerage Authority’s Caroni Water Treatment Plant.

In a statement, WASA said emergency procedures consistent with a chlorine leak were implemented and the leak was contained within 90 minutes.

WASA said the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) was informed of the leak and that authority took the necessary action. Contacted Thursday, AATT officials confirmed the incident and said the leak prompted the temporary evacuation of the air control tower of the southern end of the airport between 6.15 to 8.30 am.

They said although 26 flights were affected by this situation, the airport was not closed because of the leak and operations at Piarco soon returned to normal. Civil Aviation Authority director-general Ramesh Lutchmedial supported the AATT’s position about the leak.

Sources indicated that all airlines which had morning flights into and out of Piarco on Thursday would have been affected during the time when the leak occurred.

WASA also said it conducted air quality testing in the vicinity of and downstream from its Caroni plant and “all areas were deemed safe for occupancy.”

WASA assured the public that all emergency measures to deal with this situation were activated in the shortest possible time.