The Sông Lam Sugarcane and Sugar Company's molasses storage tank was struck by lightning, causing puncture and spill outside. — Photo dantri.com.vn

NGHỆ AN — After lightning struke a storage tank at a sugar factory in Nghệ An causing approximately 2,000 tonnes of sugarcane molasses to spill into the premises, causing major property damage, the enterprise had to assign forces to remedy overnight.

Đặng Mạnh Hùng, chairman of the Board of Directors cum General Director of the Sông Lam Sugarcane and Sugar Joint Stock Company, told the Dân trí e-newspaper on Sunday evening that the incident occurred at around 5pm the same day when heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning appeared in the area.

A lightning bolt struck the sugarcane molasses storage tank of the factory, puncturing the tank, causing the molasses inside to spill out.

“When hearing the loud explosion, we ran out to check and already saw sugarcane molasses splattering, spilling everywhere in the company premises. At that time, we only knew to stand and watch because the hole was too large, unable to handle timely,” Hùng said.

The incident caused approximately 2,000 tonnes of sugarcane molasses to spill, damage estimated at VNĐ7-8 billion (US$265,600-303,500).

Fortunately, the incident caused no human casualties.

Afterwards, the enterprise asked workers to urgently collect the amount of spilled sugarcane molasses, handle the affected area and remedy the storage tank.

“We are directing the forces to organise remediation right in the night to limit the damage to the minimum, soon stabilise production operations,” Hùng said.

After the incident, a clip recording the scene of sugarcane molasses flooding the Sông Lam sugar factory premises was widely circulated on social media, attracting great attention. Many people expressed surprise at the scale of the incident.

Previously, around 5pm on Sunday, in Nhân Hòa Commune, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning occurred. A lightning bolt struck directly into the sugarcane molasses storage tank of the sugar factory, causing the tank to be punctured and spilling the entire amount of molasses into the premises.

Dark brown sugarcane molasses flowed in streams on the concrete floor, spreading widely throughout the factory area causing stickiness causing slipperiness, posing risks of labour safety loss.

Some workers witnessing the incident said the spilling phenomenon occurred very quickly, the on-site forces only managed to deploy initial measures to circle and limit the molasses from continuing to spread.

Functional agencies and the enterprise are coordinating to inspect, assess the level of damage, while deploying remedial measures, ensuring production safety and environment. — VNS