Mayor of Vilnius Valdas Benkunskas says that with the help of the Department of Environmental Protection (AAD), the municipality managed to avoid more pollution due to the fire that broke out in Paneriai on Wednesday evening.
"Yesterday night, we managed to control a possible larger scale of pollution, as a large part of the contaminated water from the fire site was able to enter our surface sewage networks and travel to Neri. Specialists of the Department of Environmental Protection, our service companies worked really quickly in this place, the valves were closed and that water did not flow out of the area. It was pumped while it was going fire and later it is taken out and stored as already dangerous waste", he told reporters in the municipality on Thursday V. Benkunskas.
He also warns residents that while the risk of air pollution is gone Thursday, facilities and residents entering the fire area are advised to clean surfaces due to particulate matter.
"For the moment, there is no danger of air pollution anymore, that cloud has floated away. In any case, solids need to be dealt with. There is a recommendation to clean the surfaces by wet cleaning in that area for both residents and companies or institutions - everyone needs to clean the surfaces, as well as textiles, curtains and the like, where those particles could have settled", said V. Benkunskas.
ELTA reminds that on Wednesday evening a fire broke out in the landfill located on Panerių Street 56, during which the open flame burned about 5 thousand. square meter area. The fire was extinguished on Thursday morning. About 60 firefighters from the capital worked at the scene at night, and several crews are on duty during the day.
Aleksandras Zubriakovs, Director of Corporate Affairs of Lietuvos Geležinkelių (LTG) Group, stated that the fire started on the territory of Lietuvos Geležinkelių. However, the company UAB "Ruvis" is currently located in the area where the fire broke out.
If it turns out that the fire broke out on the territory of LTG in Vilnius on Wednesday due to the tenant's fault, the LTG group will consider the possibility of terminating the contract with the Ruvis company, the company announced on Thursday.
Due to increased pollution, the National Public Health Center (NVSC) recommended that educational institutions in the districts of Naujamiestis and Karoliniškii continue the education process remotely on Thursday.
Viktorija Smirnovaitė (ELTA)
