Chemical truck overturns in Strzelno, residents evacuated and schools closed

What happened

On the morning of Tuesday, 3 November, the trailer of a truck carrying chemical substances tipped over on a roundabout in the centre of Strzelno, a town in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The roundabout joins national roads 15 and 25. Two fire crews first attended the scene, and a specialist chemical team was then sent in to secure it. The State Fire Service command in Toruń said no hazardous substances had leaked. A local police spokeswoman told RMF FM that a chemical unit from Bydgoszcz had reached the site and was working to secure it.

Evacuation and school closures

The city authorities ordered the evacuation of residents of buildings directly next to the roundabout, and a collection point was set up at the Michelson primary school. RMF FM reported that 29 people from a nearby residential building had been evacuated and were waiting at the school. No one was injured. Lessons at the Michelson and Dałkowski schools were suspended, and kindergartens in the town were closed as well.

Recovery and traffic

RMF FM reported that the chemicals were being moved from the overturned trailer into another vehicle brought to the scene. Detours were set up around the centre. The police spokeswoman said the disruption could last about four more hours, until around 12:00. Rescue crews needed free passage on the roads to work at the site, which kept the surrounding streets congested.

Appeal from the city

The city office asked people not to gather around the roundabouts in the centre, not to block roads, and to let emergency services through.

“We appeal not to gather in the town centre around the roundabouts, not to block roads and to allow rescue services free passage.”

The office also asked residents to stay calm and avoid causing further disruption while the work continued.

What is still unclear

The reports reviewed do not name the chemical substances the truck was carrying. They also do not say how the trailer came to overturn. Updates from the city office and fire services are the next step to confirm when evacuated residents can return and when the schools will reopen.