A major clean-up operation is under way in Co Louth following a spillage of hazardous waste from an overturned lorry.
Louth County Council Environment and Roads staff are currently at the site of the incident at Knocknacleva/Funshog on the N2, along with gardaí.
The material contains items including battery acid and barrels of oil.
Louth County Council said that the material is considered to be of "a significant volume".
Authorities attended the incident last night and the road has been closed since around 9pm, because of the potentially hazardous nature of the spillage.
Specialist waste removal crews have been onsite from 8am this morning and were required because much of the spillage is classified as hazardous waste.
The council said that once the area is cleared, mechanical excavators may be used to dig and remove any affected landbank areas to prevent seepage to the land.
Motorists have been asked to avoid the area and diversions are in place at the junction of N2 and L2253 road to Philipstown on the Ardee side and at the junction of the N2 and R169 road to Dunleer on the Collon side.
