Manchester’s chemical cargo spill

AROUND 150 gallons of lubricant spilled at Manchester Airport’s (UK) World Freight Centre just before 17:00 yesterday.

The lubricant escaped from a drum as it was being transferred to a cargo shed.

“There was a chemical incident in the area of the cargo sheds. Flights were unaffected and the airport remained open,” a spokesman said.

Local fire crews were called in to support airport firefighters and a specialist hazardous materials team at the scene.

Firefighters wearing chemical protection suits used special granules to absorb the liquid, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said.

No-one was injured and the cargo area was declared safe just before 18:00.