Ayer Hitam: The entry and exit lanes of the Ayer Hitam Toll Plaza have been fully reopened following a temporary closure caused by an incident involving hazardous chemicals. PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) announced that the toll plaza is now accessible to all vehicles from 2:44 am today, as shared on their official Facebook page. The incident involved a drum containing corrosive chemicals that fell from a trailer.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the temporary closure was implemented by the Fire and Rescue Department for safety precautions after the incident was reported at 6:41 pm. A check conducted at 9 am showed that the traffic flow at the toll plaza had returned to normal.

Ayer Hitam Fire and Rescue Station Senior Operations Commander, PPgB Muhammad Syakir Jamal, reported that the accident involved a 40-tonne container lorry carrying Urea Formaldehyde. The mishap occurred when three drums fell from the vehicle while it was navigating a bend near the toll plaza. One of the drums, with a capacity of 1,000 litres, ruptured and spilled its contents onto the road.

The initial response included covering the chemical spill with soil while awaiting the Hazmat team’s arrival from BBP Larkin. The Hazmat team employed various detection devices and contained the spill to prevent further spread. The chemical was then transferred to a safe location.

Muhammad Syakir further noted that around 2 am, the container owner managed the removal of the materials. The Hazmat team subsequently handed the case over to the Department of Environment for additional measures.