A truck carrying hazardous waste including battery acid and oil barrels has overturned on a major motorway in Ireland.
A section of road remains closed in County Louth as a massive clean up operation is carried out, with specialist waste removal crews dealing with the situation.
Environment and highways officials are currently on site with Gardai at the Knocknacleva/Funshog junction, according to Louth Council Council.
They were at the scene to "oversee a major clean-up following spillage from an overturned lorry," the council added.
"The material contains among other items battery acid, and barrels of oil, and is considered to be of a significant volume.”
The council and Gardai attended the scene last night and the road was closed from around 9pm, “due to the potential hazardous nature of the spillage.”
The council also said that the Fire Service have been assisting to classify material and “it has been determined that much of it falls under the category of hazardous waste, which requires removal by specialist waste removal crews, who have been onsite from 8a.m. this morning".
“Once the area is cleared, mechanical excavators may be utilised to dig and remove any affected bank areas to prevent seepage to lands.”
Motorists are asked to avoid the area so the work can be safely carried out, reports the Irish Mirror.
Diversions are in place at the junction of N2 and L2253 road to Philipstown on the Ardee side and at the junction of the N2 and R169 road to Dunleer on the Collon side.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the incident.
