Hazardous Material Incident on A23: Sea Container with Pungent Smell
A hazardous material incident on the A23 northbound at the Steinburg rest area on Saturday, September 6, 2025, involved a sea container with a pungent smell. The incident lasted around ten hours and required over 130 responders, including fire departments and technical assistance from the USA. No injuries were reported, and the public was not at risk.
The incident began around 1 PM when a customs inspection discovered a loaded sea container with a strong smell. The container was unloaded by personnel in chemical protective suits, assisted by a wheel loader from the THW Barmstedt local group. Two damaged drums containing an insecticide were found on the final pallet, likely the source of the initial smell. These drums were transferred to airtight stainless steel overpacks.
The incident commander was Gerd Schlüter, chief fire officer of a local fire department. Responding units included fire departments from Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop, Groß Offenseth-Aspern, and other nearby districts. Technical assistance was provided by the THW (Technisches Hilfswerk) from Elmshorn, Barmstedt, Itzehoe, and other locations in the USA. The DRK Betreuungsgruppe Steinburg and the Rettungsdienst RKiSH also assisted. The exact cause and extent of the damage could not be determined by the fire department. Despite the closure of the Steinburg rest area, traffic on the A23 continued uninterrupted.
The hazardous material incident on the A23 was successfully managed with no reported injuries and no risk to the public. The incident involved a sea container with a pungent smell, likely due to damaged drums containing an insecticide. Over 130 responders, including fire departments and technical assistance from the USA, worked together to resolve the issue in around ten hours.
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