Polish power plant leaks fuel, threatens river

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A malfunction at a Polish power plant on Wednesday caused a leakage of fuel, prompting emergency officials to work to make sure it doesn’t contaminate the nearby Vistula River.

A spokesman for the plant, Piotr Ludwiczak, said about nine tons of the fuel, an oily substance used in combustion called mazut, escaped from the plant.

He said most was stopped by a protective firewall, but that some “trace” amounts entered the river. Firefighters were working to remove the fuel that did enter the Vistula.

Ludwiczak says “we believe this will not harm the environment.”

The malfunction occurred near Kozienice, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Warsaw.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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