Sawmill fire sends 500 litres of diesel into the Mank

A fire at a sawmill in Kirnberg damaged a diesel tank, sending about 500 litres of fuel into the nearby Mank river, ORF reported. Several fire brigades responded to the environmental incident in the district of Melk on Saturday.

The fire started in a wood-chipping machine on Saturday morning. Firefighters used oil booms to stop the diesel spreading further, but they have not yet determined how much of the river has been contaminated.

Authorities are discussing how the fuel should be removed. The fire was quickly brought under control and the hall was saved. No one was injured, but the wood-chipping machine was destroyed.