Dutch firm sued over toxic waste dumped in Ivory Coast

A Dutch lawyer has lodged a compensation claim against Dutch company Trafigura, demanding millions of euros in damages for the victims of toxic waste dumped by the ship Probo Koala, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Tuesday.

The ship, leased by Trafigura, was said to have dumped a large amount of toxic waste in the port of Abidjan in Ivory Coast in August. Thousands of people fell ill and 10 were killed.

Lawyer Bob van der Goen said that Trafigura was primarily responsible for the environmental disaster.

"The waste was drained by a firm in the Ivory Coast, but Trafigura ensured the poisonous waste was taken there," he was quoted by ANP as saying.

"It knew very well that the waste was poisonous. Trafigura is then definitely liable," he added.

Goen said the damages claim could amount to millions of euros.

"There were a lot of victims," he said, adding that Trafigura is a very large firm with turnover valued at billions of euros.

Source: Xinhua