The incident came after a tanker with caustic soda nose-dived into a 50-foot ravine and spilled caustic soda into the Suawan River.
Dabawenyos are currently barred from swimming and fishing in the affected area.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office(CDRRMO) head Alfredo Baloran in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio(DCDR) confirmed the truck driver was killed and his helper was treated.
Baloran said the caustic soda is hazardous, poisonous, and deadly, which is why the area is too dangerous. He said the water at the Suawan River is currently being examined as a clearing operation was immediately conducted at the area.
What the CDRRMO is worried about is the spread of the chemicals to other tributaries of the Davao River especially during a heavy rain.
“We are really worried about its impact because if it rains, the chemicals will flow towards the other tributaries of Davao River,”Baloran said in vernacular.
Baloran however assured all necessary actions are now being taken to prevent further impact of the chemical spill.
The truck carrying hazardous chemicals plunged near the Suawan River. Photo Davao City Central 911