Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Chloroform found in Odesa building where dozens died

im578x383-trade-union-building-in-Odessa_Reuters

In the Trade Union Building in Odesa, where dozens of people died on May 2, a chloroform substance used in medicine was discovered, the head of the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Vitaliy Sakal, stated at a press briefing Monday, May 19, as reported by Interfax Ukraine.

“In the debris and the soot removed during the inspection of the Trade Union Building, a chloroform-like substance was discovered. Chloroform is well known: it is used during surgery, but how it came to be in the Trade Union Building is something we’re trying to establish,” he said.

“The inhalation of chloroform vapor, according to expert opinion, leads to respiratory arrest, which is exactly what happened here. 32 people died not from the heat but as a result of the effects of an unknown substance — cardiac arrest and choking,” Sakal said.

Sakal noted that the mixture containing chloroform was in the Trade Union Building for over a day. “According to experts, if chloroform remains in the air and in contact with air, it becomes a dangerous substance. There is no need to heat it even, inhaling it leads to irreparable consequences for health,” he explained.

Sakal added that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have asked the Embassy of Israel in Ukraine to provide qualified experts to help Ukrainian professionals conduct a more thorough examination.

According to Sakal, the main issues to be addressed by experts include the amount of chloroform that was present in the building, “the proportions used, if it was it mixed with gasoline or diesel fuel, which were the flammable mixtures (present in the building).”

He said the Ukrainian side is expecting a response from Israel soon and hopes it will send experts to Ukraine.

Sources:

http://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/205457.html

http://ua.interfax.com.ua/news/general/205480.html

 

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares
Related Posts