Liquid oxygen spill prompts health alert in Buenos Aires neighborhood

Authorities declared a health alert in Buenos Aires' Monte Castro neighborhood after a truck carrying liquid oxygen suffered a spill. The incident occurred Friday at the intersection of Elpidio González street and Lope de Vega avenue, near the exit of the Hospital Vélez Sarsfield.

The driver of the Air Liquid truck reported that a valve broke while he was attempting to change a tank, causing the leak. Viral images showed Elpidio González street covered in liquid oxygen, creating an unusual scene. Hospital staff and police immediately evacuated the area and temporarily closed off the hospital's vehicle exit. Residents in the vicinity were also evacuated from their homes.

A liquid oxygen leak involves the release of the gas at extremely low temperatures, around -183°C. When it contacts air, it evaporates rapidly, creating a dense white cloud. This significantly increases the risk of fire or explosion for nearby materials. One major danger is oxygen enrichment, where the air becomes hyperoxygenated, making common materials like clothing and wood highly flammable and prone to spontaneous combustion.

Another potential hazard is cryogenic burns, caused by direct contact with the extremely cold liquid, leading to severe and instant frostbite. A similar incident occurred last year in Buenos Aires' Villa Urquiza neighborhood, involving an oxygen leak near a rehabilitation clinic. In that case, as in Monte Castro, nearby homes were evacuated, and traffic was blocked. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in either incident.