Chemical disaster leads to a fatal incident at Romonta; post-mortem conducted on the deceased employee
On September 18, 2025, a tragic incident occurred at the Romonta plant in Amsdorf, located in the Mansfeld-South Harz district. A worker lost their life in an industrial accident, and four others were injured during the rescue attempt.
The accident was caused by a chemical leak from an industrial facility, according to the police, who are currently investigating the background of the incident. The deceased employee was confirmed to have come into contact with the substance toluene during the accident.
Toluene, a component of crude oil, is a colorless, flammable liquid used as a solvent for various products. It is obtained by distillation and is a key component in the production of high-quality raw montan wax, which is extracted from bitumen-rich lignite at the Romonta plant in Amsdorf.
The spokesperson of Romonta GmbH has not been named in the reports, with the media referring to an unnamed company spokesman who confirmed the incident and provided information about the accident and the injured colleagues. Romonta, the world's largest manufacturer of montan wax, the raw material for shoe polish and floor wax, is in close contact with the relevant authorities regarding the accident.
The body of the deceased employee was transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University Medical Center for official identification. The autopsied body was confirmed to be that of the worker who died on Wednesday.
The four injured individuals were hospitalized and have since been discharged. Two of the injuries were Romonta employees, while two were called-in sanitarians who were attempting to help during the rescue effort. The fire department supported the investigation with protective equipment, and the operation to investigate the accident lasted several hours.
The investigation into the cause of the workplace accident is ongoing, involving the State Office for Consumer Protection. The police are working diligently to uncover the details of this unfortunate event, with the hope of preventing similar incidents in the future.
Our thoughts go out to the families and colleagues affected by this tragedy.
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