A one hundred metre cordon was set up around a shipping container at Napier Port as it was discovered there had been a spill of a dangerous chemical.
The flammable and hazardous material methyl ethyl ketone, otherwise known as butanone, is a plastic manufacturing chemical and is present in solvents.
Unsure of the extent of the risk, a massive cleanup operation has been underway to release the dangerous fumes and scrupulously clean anything that has or may have been in contact with the substance.
The Napier port authorities stated that they are prepared for any possible spills and will work alongside emergency services to determine the safest course of action.
South of Napier in New Zealand, the port in Wellington was closed for a number of days earlier in November following a destructive earthquake which rocked the South Island of New Zealand.
Chief Executive Derek Nind, Chief Executive of the Port, said: “We have sustained damage to buildings and the port and also some liquefaction and differential settlement in places, we understand this is inconvenient for customers and tenants and we’ll provide updates when we know more; our primary focus is safety.”
