CHEMICAL INCIDENT – 3000m³ HAZARDOUS WASTE AND THE LATE “IF ONLY”

A single chemical incident, which occurred on July 14, 2025, resulted in more than 3,000 m³ of hazardous waste that is difficult to treat, directly affecting the environment. The cost of remediation can be up to tens of billions of VND, along with potential risks of damage to people and property. Unfortunately,…

18 tons of chemicals (about 3000m³) can be completely controlled, not released into the environment, and there are still ways to effectively prevent and collect, and handle promptly. However, because we do not know how to respond and react quickly to chemical incidents, in just a few seconds, this incident can cause serious, unpredictable consequences, can take lives, can turn all our efforts into ashes, …

Directly on duty at the scene of the incident, Mr. Pham Van Son – Director of the Vietnam Environmental Incident Response Center – shared: “And there… still exists the word ‘if only’ – too late…
If only the preventive measures are understood correctly and implemented seriously…
If only the on-site team is trained, equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and equipment…
If only the environmental incident response plan is built systematically, with preparation in advance and full risk assessment…
If only the interdisciplinary forces, the rescue units are activated promptly, coordinate effectively to come up with a plan to prevent it from the beginning…”
If those things are done correctly, at the right time, by the right people, properly, then this situation of 3000m³ of difficult-to-treat waste would not have happened!

From July 1, 2025, a number of new Decrees and Laws will officially take effect, with the orientation of optimizing costs, improving operational efficiency, promoting responsibility for preventing and responding to environmental incidents from the grassroots.

This also requires: We, those in the industry and most of all the community, need to change our thinking, update new ways of doing things to adapt to the modern legal – management context in preventing incidents – protecting the environment.

Instead of facing passively, large remediation costs, damaged images… investing in prevention, training, rehearsals and preparation from the beginning will be much more economical. The Center’s courses, specialized training, guidance – simulation – training products are practical tools to help facilities, businesses, and localities reduce risks, increase capacity, ensure compliance and effectively protect the environment.

Chemical incidents are not just technical issues. They are a story of awareness, preparation and action. Reality also shows that: No preparation is redundant, especially when the price to pay is the environment and community safety.

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VIETNAM ENVIRONMENTAL INCIDENT RESPONSE CENTER
Address: P203 – A5, Thang Long International Village, Tran Dang Ninh Street, Nghia Do Ward, Hanoi.
Hotline: 1800 6558 – Email: sos@sosmoitruong.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sosmoitruongvietnam
Website: https://sosmoitruong.com/