HONOLULU
-- Fire department spokesman Emmitt Kane said about 30 glass vials containing
an unknown liquid were found Thursday on Sand Island.
He said they are the same shape and description of vials found earlier this
week on Wilhelmina Rise.
A military hazardous materials team has moved both sets of vials to a military
base. A team of army experts from Maryland will then begin work on identifying
the unknown substances.
The woman who discovered about 100 sealed glass vials containing an unknown
liquid in a box underneath her house on Wilhelmina Rise said she's been exposed
to the liquid before but hasn't felt any ill effects.
Resident Kelly McArthur found the vials months ago when she was cleaning
the home formerly owned by the late Col. Ernest Thomas. Thomas was a chemical
engineer for the Army.
"I figured it was some type of chemical. I thought it might be Clorox. Somebody
told me it might be water. In the old days, they used to put water in glasses
like that," McArthur said.
She said she was exposed to the chemical about six weeks ago when some of
the vials broke after a friend helped her move them.
"There had to be leakage and if there was, and it was really dangerous, I
think I wouldn't be standing here right now," McArthur said.
However, crews were not taking any chances.
Officials warned hundreds of Wilhelmina Rise residents to evacuate Thursday
as chemical disposal experts converged on the neighborhood to remove the
vials.
Department of Health workers canvassed the area, letting neighbors know what
was going on. Residents were warned if they didn't leave, they should close
windows and stay inside.
"I'm scared, very scary. (It) might have started to get corroded and start
leaking out," neighbor Vera Kurima said.
The vials were taken to Wheeler Army Airfield, where an Army team from the
mainland is expected to test the vials and then destroy them.
The National Guard's Adjutant Gen. Robert Lee said he believes the vials
may contain diluted chemical weapons.
