A truck transporting Calcium chloride (CaCl2) overturned along A3 road, 200m from the Orapa Junction on Wednesday morning.
The truck was heading to Zambia from South Africa.
In a brief interview with The Voice Online, Tatitown Police Station Commander Superintendent Boipuso Baatweng, their preliminary investigations suggests that the driver who was alone, lost control of the 18-wheeler before it overturned.
Baatweng further said, luckily there was no spillage as the chemical is in secure sack bags.
“The truck has since been lifted, and we are waiting for the company owners to come and safely carry the bags, a delicate process that needs extreme caution,” he said.
“We plead with members of the community to keep a safe distance as the chemicals can be a health risk if inhaled,” warned Baatweng.
Calcium Chloride is an organic compound, a salt with the chemical formula CaCl2.
It is a white crystalline that can be created by neutralizing hydrochloric acid with calcium hydroxide.
If ingested, calcium chloride can lead to burns in the mouth and throat, excess thirst, vomiting, stomach pain, low blood pressure, and other possible severe health effects.
It can also irritate skin by causing excessive dryness.
