【Accident Information】On October 7, 2016, a methanol tanker leak accident occurred in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia

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At 9:05 on October 7, a methanol tank truck overturned at the Shengli toll station on the Axiao Line in Hangjin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia; no one was trapped inside. A leak has occurred, and the situation is extremely urgent. The Hangjin Banner team immediately dispatched 1 rescue fire truck, 1 8-ton water tank fire truck, 1 25-ton water tank fire truck, along with 10 firefighters, to the scene to carry out the rescue operation. Along the way, the squadron contacted departments such as those responsible for safety supervision, environmental protection, traffic control, and road management to assist with the rescue efforts. It also obtained information about the situation at the scene via phone calls. The squadron commander then gave instructions on how to handle the situation once they arrived on site. He conveyed the physical and chemical properties of methanol to each member of the team through walkie-talkies, and ordered them to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, set up barriers at the scene, and take measures to ensure safety and prevent accidents. At 9:55, firefighters arrived at the scene. After questioning the driver of the tank truck, it was learned that the vehicle was coming from Dali Road in Zhunqi County, Ordos City, and heading to Hebei Province. It was carrying 28.4 tons of methanol. When it reached the Shengli toll station, the driver failed to apply the brakes; in order to avoid hitting the toll booth, the driver tried to turn around on the spot, which caused the vehicle to tip over. There has been a leakage, but fortunately no one was injured. Upon learning of the situation, the commander immediately ordered that a main pipeline be used to dilute the liquid in the affected area, in preparation for transferring it to another container. At 10:20, Jia Zhanrong, the deputy head of Hangjin County, along with officials from the Work Safety Bureau and the Environmental Protection Bureau, arrived at the scene. At 11:15, the transfer equipment contacted by the tank truck driver arrived at the scene and began the process of transferring the liquid from one tank to another. Firefighters continued to use water to dilute the substance. The transfer was completed at 13:50, and the crane that was waiting nearby immediately lifted the tank truck. By 14:30, the tank truck had been successfully lifted, and the firefighters diluted the methanol that had leaked onto the road once more.