A trailer carrying 15 000 litres of hazardous sulphuric acid overturned on the N1 outside Pretoria on Monday, disrupting peak-hour afternoon traffic.
Tshwane Emergency Management Services spokesperson Johan Pieterse said traffic officers advised north-bound motorists to close their windows and turn off their air conditioning as they passed the scene.
”Sulphuric acid is toxic to inhale and can cause irritation to the skin,” he said, adding that one would feel its effects later rather than immediately.
He advised anyone feeling such effects to seek medical treatment immediately rather than treat themselves at home.
Pieterse said clean-up operations started once the traffic flow was normalised.
The trailer occupied the grassed area between the north- and south-bound lanes, close to the Stormvoël Drive offramp. — Sapa