Kapelle-op-den-Bos (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Kapelle-op-den-Bos, fears rose after possibly asbestos-contaminated soil was found near a warehouse. Mayor Mathias Diric ordered tests; the council debates transparency and safety due to Eternit’s legacy.
As VRT News reported, Kapelle-op-den-Bos, a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, a town once known for asbestos, is facing new worries about asbestos. The Eternit factory, which made asbestos products, left a legacy of illness for many residents and workers. Officials mentioned that asbestos is now banned, and cleanup efforts are underway; any discovery of potential asbestos hazards causes concern.
Recently, a large pile of earth was found behind the town’s warehouse, and some people say it might contain asbestos. This has caused worry about health risks, especially if asbestos fibres could spread through the air. The town is now dealing with these concerns and trying to protect its residents from the dangers of asbestos.
What’s behind the Asbestos fears in Kapelle-op-den-Bos?
The discovery of the earth mound caused a special meeting of the town council in Kapelle-op-den-Bos. Council members argued about where the soil came from, if it had asbestos, and how the town was dealing with it. The ruling group said the soil was just being stored temporarily and was fenced off to keep people safe.
They also said they sent samples for testing and would remove the soil if asbestos was found. But, those in opposition and worried citizens said the town wasn’t being open enough and wanted the soil removed right away.
In Kapelle-op-den-Bos, Mayor Mathias Diric talked about the asbestos soil at a recent meeting. He said the land issue started before his time and that they didn’t do a soil check at first because they didn’t think the area was risky.
The mayor said that neither the workers nor the town staff saw any asbestos while they were working. He mentioned that, however, because of the visible pieces and worries from others, the situation has become more serious, leading to a review of how these projects are managed. Mayor Diric said the town will learn from the soil issue. The council decided to be more careful with soil projects in the future.
“The work was carried out in accordance with the rules imposed on us from above. The fact that something went wrong means that the current regulations are inadequate,”
Says Mayor Mathias Diric
