The way tourists arrive at a ghost town in Australia is causing authorities a headache.
Wittenoom was a wealthy town that grew and became famous through mining in the 1940s.
However, heavy contamination with blue asbestos changed its history and caused this population to be banned and forgotten over time.
The authorities had to close it in 1966 because the mine did not bring in enough money and was not economically viable.
But the worst would come years later, when it was revealed that this asbestos mine was responsible for the illness and death of hundreds of people.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 miners, residents and family members died from asbestos-related diseases in Wittenoom. mainly due to severe cancers that affect the lungs.
In this way, asbestos became a silent killer for thousands of people who were exposed to the fibers of this mineral, causing them to develop asbestosis.
«Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Prolonged contact with these fibers can cause scarring of lung tissue and shortness of breath,” reports the Mayo Clinic medical portal.
Curiously, the last person to live there was Lorraine Thomas, an 80-year-old woman who refused to leave the place until last year.
A dangerous ghost town
Almost six decades have passed since Wittenoom began turning into a ghost town.
Governments have tried to remove it from the map to prevent people from visiting this city; as there is a high risk of death from inhaling the asbestos suspended in the environment.
The authorities have tried to impose strict sanctions on people who enter the place, but the truth is that this is becoming uncontrollable and this has been documented by several influencers who have visited the area.
Several signs have been posted on the roads warning of the risks posed in this remote location:
“Danger – asbestos in this area. “Respirators and protective clothing against the risk of cancer and lung diseases are required in this area,” the notices say.
In this way, the government has developed a comprehensive plan to completely demolish the houses that are still in this city.
The story of Wittenoom has become so popular that many refer to it as the “Chernobyl of the South.”
“The asbestos mining operation at Wittenoom was the greatest occupational health and safety tragedy in Australia, comparable to the Chernobyl and Bhopal disasters,” said a report published in 2011.
All traffic signs, power systems, roads, paths and maps have been modified and closed to make access more difficult in a region where approximately 50,000 hectares are completely contaminated with asbestos.
The city was classified as “dangerous to humanity”; But this has also aroused the curiosity of some young people who want to document their experiences visiting this place on social networks.
Despite all the warnings, this dangerous place attracts the attention of people who like to engage in extreme or dark tourism with the aim of visiting forbidden places.
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