A hazardous substance leak at the Van der Sluis technical company in Genemuiden, Overijssel, injured 13 employees and one firefighter on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2026.
Emergency services responded to the chemical incident at approximately 9:45 a. m.
local time, according to the IJsselland safety region.
Those affected experienced severe symptoms including respiratory difficulties, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. They were immediately transferred to a local hospital for medical evaluation.
Cause of the Leak
The hazardous situation arose when a forklift battery overheated and boiled dry inside the facility.
Emergency responders evacuated the entire workforce from the premises and removed the malfunctioning forklift from the building to mitigate further exposure.
Authorities have not officially identified the exact chemical compound. However, regional newspaper De Stentor reported that the substance is highly likely sulfur dioxide.
This toxic gas is commonly released when a lead-acid battery lacks sufficient fluid due to overheating or overcharging.
The technical company has since initiated restart protocols after the forklift was fully secured by emergency teams.
Measurements confirmed that the outdoor air quality is safe, allowing administrative personnel to re-enter the office building.
