KEY POINTS:
A sulphuric acid spill in Northland has been controlled and little damage reported.
A tanker carrying about 3000 litres of 77 per cent concentrate sulphuric acid rolled on a rural section of State Highway 12 between Ruawai and Dargaville, about 1km south of the Tokatoka Tavern, at 6.30am today.
Northland Regional Council area manager Tony Dwain said it was only a minor spill of about 1000 litres and was now largely contained.
There was no threat to the nearby Wairoa River.
It was now a matter of waiting for the company involved to provide a second tanker to recover the spilled acid, Mr Dwain said.
The tanker had tipped over onto the roadside berm and only a small amount of acid went onto the road, he said.
Sulphuric acid, if concentrated enough, can cause burns and inhalation can affect breathing.
Mr Dwain said that if the acid did get into the river it would have been quickly diluted and would not be a problem.
The road was expected to be closed until midday
Two truck loads of sand were needed at the scene, and a crane to right the tanker.
The driver of the truck suffered only minor injuries.
- NZPA
