A TANKER carrying a load of hydrochloric acid spilled its load on the N2 between KwaMbonambi and eTeza earlier this (Friday) morning.

The hydrochloric acid spill emitted a large amount of gas, greatly inhibiting the visibility of motorists.

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‘We drove through the spillage. Visibility was severely compromised and our vision was totally impaired,’ said one motorist who had been driving from Richards Bay to Sodwana Bay.

‘It smelled horrendous and our eyes, nose and throat burned. It was horrible, and it was everywhere.’

Emergency services arrived on scene, closely followed by a team of hazmat specialists in protective gear who immediately got to work containing the spillage.

According to Mounties Emergency Services, who are stationed at the scene, the spillage has been contained, the truck is parked in the northbound emergency lane and both carriageways are open to traffic.

However, it remains an ongoing clean-up operation so motorists must exercise caution.

The clean-up crew are waiting for another vehicle in which to transfer the waste, while a break-down truck is also en route to remove the truck from the scene.

Hydrochloric acid is extremely corrosive and could cause great damage to the paint and tyres of vehicles driving through such a spillage.

The many motorists who drove through the contaminated area should have their vehicles inspected for possible corrosion and damage.