The US embassy on Wednesday ordered staff around the site of the February disaster in Zambia's northern copper belt to leave immediately, saying newly available information revealed the "extent of hazardous and carcinogenic substances".
The failure of the tailings dam released 50 million litres (13 million US gallons) of acidic waste from a Chinese-owned mine into streams and rivers near the town of Kitwe, about 285 kilometres (180 miles) north of the capital Lusaka.
After lime-dosing to neutralise the waste, pH levels in the water systems had returned to acceptable standards by early March and were now normal, government spokesman Cornelius Mweetwa told reporters.
Concentrations of heavy metals were also decreasing, he said.
"All serious implications on public health, water safety, agriculture, and the environment have been brought under control," he said.
"There is, therefore, absolutely no need to press the 'panic button' today to alarm the nation and the international community."
In a post on social media Wednesday, the US embassy said new information revealed the presence of hazardous substances including arsenic, cyanide, uranium and other heavy metals.
Ordering its US government personnel to leave the area, it said exposure to these toxins posed "immediate and long-term health threats".
The post did not say how many people were affected by the order or where the new information was from.
Without directly citing the US embassy, the Zambian government spokesman said anyone with new findings should bring them to the authorities.
No deaths or confirmed cases of acute heavy metal poisoning linked to the event had been recorded, Mweetwa said, and three people who had fallen ill had recovered.
The government was actively monitoring the presence of heavy metals in the water, soil and sediment, he said.
Of 200 soil and water samples being analysed by an independent laboratory, the preliminary results of 37 had been released and the remainder were undergoing testing, he said.
Media reports from the area soon after the disaster said the pollution had travelled more than 100 kilometres from the dam, killing fish and livestock.
Over 600 pilgrims hospitalised due to chlorine gas leak in Iraq
Karbala, Iraq (AFP) Aug 10, 2025 -
More than 600 pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalised with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine as the result of a leak at a water treatment station, authorities said Sunday.
The incident took place overnight on the route between the two Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, located in the centre and south of Iraq respectively.
This year, several million Shiite Muslim pilgrims are expected to make their way to Karbala, which houses the shrines of the revered Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.
There, they will mark the Arbaeen -- the 40-day period of mourning during which Shiites commemorate the death of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
In a brief statement, Iraq's health ministry said "621 cases of asphyxia have been recorded following a chlorine gas leak in Karbala".
"All have received the necessary care and left hospital in good health," it said.
Security forces charged with protecting pilgrims meanwhile said the incident had been caused by "a chlorine leak from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road".
Much of Iraq's infrastructure is in disrepair due to decades of conflict and corruption, with adherence to safety standards often lax.
In July, a massive fire at a shopping mall in the eastern city of Kut killed more than 60 people, many of whom suffocated in the toilets, according to authorities.
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