At least two workers died yesterday after the collapse of the wall of a sewage plant, which led to the leakage of millions of gallons of waste into a river in Tennessee. The dead workers were identified as 53-year-old John Eslinger and 44-year-old Don Storey. Their bodies were found under rubble at the site in Gatlinburg.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said that the sewage has been washed into the Little Pigeon River as a result of the collapse. Though the officials are yet to gauge the size of the initial spill, it is estimated that it could be as much as 3.2 million gallons. The investigators are trying to know the reason behind the collapse. Local authorities have advised the residents to stay away from the river but have been told tap water is safe.
"Employees and officials of both the City of Gatlinburg and Veolia Water are expressing deepest sympathies to the families and are extremely saddened to lose co-workers and good friends," Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said in a statement.
According to Tisha Calabrese-Benton, a state Emergency Management Agency official, since the basin was not completely full, it is tough to estimate that how much sewage was released. Calabrese-Benton said that the incoming sewage were still release by the plant into the river. Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Ogle said that several hours before the collapse of the wall a mudslide occurred about one mile from the facility as rain hit the area overnight Monday. Gatlinburg is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains.
