HÀ NỘI — A dozen of drums suspected of containing toxic chemicals were illegally dumped along Thăng Long Boulevard after the National Independence Day holiday, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The drums, which were leaking thick, black substance, were littered close to paddy fields and irrigation canals.

Nguyễn Quang Khải, vice director of Hà Nội Urban Environment Company’s Cầu Diễn Branch, said that on Tuesday, the staff had discovered 12 drums on Thăng Long Boulevard in Hà Nội's Nam Từ Liêm District.

The drums had different colours containing about 200 litres of liquid each, Khải said.

The liquid had a pungent odour which caused headaches, sneezing and shortness of breath, he added.

The company had reported the incident to Hà Nội’s Police, Construction Department, Natural Resources and Environment Department, and Nam Từ Liêm District’s authority to give measures on prevention of illegally placing garbage, especially industrial and toxic waste on the road.

“This was not the first time the highway was an illegal dump of industrial toxic waste,” Khải said.

In early August, the company uncovered dozens of chemical drums placed on the road in Ngọc Mỹ Commune of Quốc Oai District.

The road is close to paddy fields and threatened the environment and people’s health, he said. — VNS