Overview
- Emergency crews sealed the leak overnight and handed the site to PCK and THW, with vacuum trucks continuing to recover surface oil.
- Preliminary assessments indicate the rupture occurred during preparations for a planned safety test, and authorities say sabotage is currently excluded as the probe continues.
- At least 200,000 liters of crude escaped, with oil shooting many meters into the air for hours before the flow was largely stopped Wednesday evening.
- Officials report the oil landed on very wet farmland, making deep infiltration less likely; the civil protection agency warned residents about strong odors and advised keeping windows closed.
- Around 100 firefighters and 25 PCK staff responded, the refinery says operations remain unaffected, and Brandenburg’s environment minister is set to inspect the site today.