A tank containing hundreds of cubic metres of wastewater and lead and zinc waste from a factory in this northern mountainous province split, spilling its contents into Gam River in Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam.

A split tank containing hundreds of cubic metres of wastewater and lead and zinc waste pollutes Gam River.

Vietnam News Agency reported the incident occurred on Tuesday at the CKC Ltd., Co., in Pac Mieu Township of Bao Lam District.

The waste also flowed into some residential areas.

Vu Ngoc Luu, chairman of the Bao Lam District's People's Committee, told the news agency that so far, the damage caused by the incident has not yet been assessed.

The company has been asked to quickly repair the damage to minimise its negative impact on the environment and the health of the locals.

As of 10pm the same day, the company had stemmed the flow of waste, the official said.

The locals are concerned that the poisonous waste will affect their health.

The CKC company is a member of Viet Mineral Exploitation and Processing Stock Company based in Ha Noi.

The CKC, employing 400 Vietnamese workers and Chinese experts, is the country's leading manufacturer of lead and zinc.

At present, the company has two screen lines with a total capacity of 2,400 tonnes of lead and zinc per day.

VNS