Sonora truck rollover causes 12,000-liter sulfuric acid spill

A major environmental emergency occurred in Sonora, Mexico, after a double-tanker truck owned by Express Milac overturned on the Ímuris-Cananea highway. The accident, which took place near the El Quince point around 16:00 on Tuesday, resulted in the spill of approximately 12,000 liters of highly corrosive sulfuric acid.

The spill affected the asphalt roadway and roughly 200 linear meters of natural soil. Due to the terrain, some of the substance reached difficult-to-access areas. Authorities reported that a subsequent rainstorm triggered an exothermic reaction when the acid contacted water, creating a risk of toxic smoke and heat.

Emergency response teams, including Profepa, Semarnat, and Civil Protection, utilized hydrated lime to neutralize the substance. The highway was closed for approximately 15 hours to allow for cleaning, recovery, and neutralization efforts. While no injuries were reported, Profepa is conducting technical inspections to determine the full extent of the environmental damage and establish administrative responsibilities for the transport company.