Mexico closes 88 schools in Sonora after 10 million gallons of acid spills from copper mine into rivers

A faulty holding pond at the Buenavista Copper Mine spilled acid into two major Mexican rivers, affecting about 800,000 people. Up to 5,000 school children will be kept home from class this week as officials de-acidify the water.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, August 19, 2014, 1:56 PM
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A copper mine in Mexico's Sonora state dumped gallons of sulfuric acid into two nearby rivers. HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images A copper mine in Mexico's Sonora state dumped gallons of sulfuric acid into two nearby rivers.

Mexico temporarily closed 88 schools due to toxic leakage from a copper mine, keeping about 5,000 students out of the classroom.

School children in the state of Sonora were due to head back to school this week, but their first day was delayed because officials feared they may come in contact with the sulfuric acid-contaminated water, BBC News reported.

On Aug. 6, 10 million gallons of acids from the Buenavista Copper Mine spilled into two rivers posing a threat to much of Northern Mexico.

The Bacanuchi and Sonora rivers spread the leakage throughout northern Mexico. About 800,000 people have been affected.

A faulty holding pond at the Buenavista Copper Mine caused the Aug. 6 leak. HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images
A faulty holding pond at the Buenavista Copper Mine caused the Aug. 6 leak.
A resident collects water in Sonora state since much of the water from the river has been deemed unsafe. HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images
A resident collects water in Sonora state since much of the water from the river has been deemed unsafe.
AUG. 12, 2014 PHOTO Julian Ortega/AP
The Aug. 6 leak forced Mexico to close 88 schools for at least a week.
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  • View of the "Buena Vista" copper mine in Cananea community, Sonora state, Mexico on August 13, 2014, which leaked 40 thousand cubic meters of sulfuric acid five days ago seriously polluting the Sonora river. The chemical caused an orange stain along a 60-kilometer (37-mile) stretch of the river bordered by the towns of Arizpe, Banamichi, Vabiacora, Aconchi, Cananea, Ures and Hermosillo. More than twenty thousand people still remain without drinking water. AFP PHOTO/Hector Guerrero
  • A resident collects water outside their home in the Arizpe community, Sonora state, Mexico on August 12, 2014, where five days ago a copper mine leaked 40 thousand cubic meters of sulfuric acid into the Sonora River, seriously polluting the water way. Water supplies to 20,000 residents of seven Mexican towns were cut on August 12, 2014 after the leakage. Mexico's National Human Rights Commission said it was investigating the incident. More than a quarter of Mexico's mining activity is located in the Sonora region, making it the country's top producer of gold, copper and graphite. AFP PHOTO/Hector Guerrero (Photo credit should read HECTOR GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)
  • AUG. 12, 2014 PHOTO
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It's unclear exactly when Sonora students will head back to class, but they will not be let in until the regions affected have clean drinking water, Sonora state civil protection director Carlos Arias said.

The leak likely stemmed from defects in newly built holding ponds at the mine, Arias said.

The acid was detected in the river a day later and the government cut off water supplies that stem from the river.

Now, officials are working to de-acidify the rivers. Julian Ortega/AP Now, officials are working to de-acidify the rivers.

Now, officials are working to de-acidify the two rivers by adding heaps of calcium to the water. Acid levels are dropping, Mexico's National Water Commission said, but the water is still not totally safe.

The agency will continue to monitor water until most of the chemicals are gone.

Arturo Rodriguez, the head of industrial inspection for the Attorney General for Environmental Protection, claimed lax regulations contributed to the problem. The mine should have detected the spill before so much of the acid got out, he said.

With News Wire Services

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