Huge explosion tears through chemical factory

One person has died and at least six people injured after chemical explosion at a chemical factory in Spain
Fire broke out at factory in Tarragona province of northeast Spain, most likely as result of a chemical accident
Civil protection agency warned people in the city of 800,000 and in nearby towns to refrain from going out

One person has died and at least six people have been injured following an explosion at a petrochemical plant in Spain today, regional authorities said.

The blast, which broke just after 6.30pm today, occurred at a chemical plant in the Tarragona province of northeast Spain, and is most likely as a result of a chemical accident, Catalonia's civil defence agency said.

The civil protection agency in the Catalonia region called the blast a 'chemical accident' and warned people in parts of the city of 800,000 and in nearby towns to refrain from going outside as a precaution.

Following the explosion, around 20 emergency vehicles rushed to the scene and the Catalan fire brigade said the injured people, four of whom are being treated for 'major burns', were being attended to by the emergency services.


One person has died and at least six people have been injured after a fire broke out on Tuesday at a chemical factory in the Tarragona province of northeast Spain just after 6.30pm today

The fire, which left plumes of smoke in the air, was most likely as a result of a chemical accident, Catalonia's civil defence agency said

Plumes of smoke were seen rising into the air following the chemical explosion at the industrial hub in northeastern Spain
Huge explosion tears through chemical factory in Tarragona

Windows on buildings as far afield as the the holiday resort of Salou are said to have been shaken by the blast and one local paper is claiming people have been left 'seriously injured'.

Firefighters have not said how badly the casualties have been hurt and say the huge plume of smoke rising above the plant is not toxic.

The interior minister of Spain's Catalonia region, Miquel Buch, tweeted that the explosion caused one death and left six people injured while one person remained missing.

Buch said the smoke from the resulting fire was not toxic but he also advised residents to remain inside.

Following the incident videos circulated online, including one captured by a CCTV camera near the scene, showed the moment a large mushroom cloud emerged above the factory and the aftermath of the blast.
567 shares

A local resident named only as Ines told radio station Cadena Ser: 'The sky turned a colour between white and blue. There was a horrible light.

'Then a black plume of smoke appeared with a really strong smell and firefighters and ambulances began to arrive.

'I ran home and closed all my doors and pulled down the blinds.'

Initially 300,000 people had been urged to stay indoors as a precaution but residents of only two areas near to the city of Tarragona - La Canonja and Vilaseca - are now being asked to make sure they remain in their homes with their windows and doors closed.

The civil defence agency advised people nearby to stay inside with doors and windows shut as a precaution, but added: 'There is no evidence of a toxic cloud.' 

Smoke continues to rise into the air at a petrochemical industrial park in Tarragona, Spain, on January 14 following a chemical explosion

After the explosion, which broke just after 6.30pm today local residents were told to stay inside their homes and the train service near the plant has been suspended

Large clouds of smoke rise into the the sky following a chemical explosion in Tarragona, Spain, at 6.30pm on January 14
Huge cloud of smoke billows from petrochemical plant after explosion

Local trains between Tarragona and neighbouring Port Aventura were suspended on police orders, the train operator Rodalies said, while the regional transport authority said some roads had been closed.

Although firefighters said the fire caused by the explosion was under control, the blaze is expected to continue until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Catalan president Quim Torra said: 'I would like to send my condolences to the family of the person who died as a result of this accident.

'We would also like to send a message of tranquility to the population because no toxic agent has been detected in the air.'

Tarragona is located 115 kilometers (71 miles) southwest of Barcelona, the regional capital of Spain's Catalonia region.

Since 2015, the city has housed a 1,200-hectare (2,965-acre) 'chemical hub,' ChemMed, that was described as the largest of its kind in southern Europe.

The government said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had been in contact with the regional president of Catalonia, Quim Torra to inquire about the blast and offer any help needed.

Tuesday's explosion comes just over a month after a blaze at a solvent and industrial residues recycling plant in the northeastern town of Montornes del Valles on December 11.

After that blast, which caused no casualties, authorities had to cordon off an area of some 500 meters (550 yards) in radius around the plant.

Emergency services rush to the scene after the explosion at the chemical factory in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Smoke continues to rise into the night sky after the fire, which is most likely as a result of a chemical accident, broke just after 6.30pm today

Flames emerge after the chemical explosion in Spain

A mushroom cloud rises into the sky after a blast at the chemical plant in the Tarragona province of Spain

CCTV shows moment of explosion at Spain's petrochemical plant

Daily Mail