An order to confine approximately 160,000 residents in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region has been lifted on Saturday. The lockdown was implemented following a significant fire that erupted at an industrial estate, resulting in a hazardous toxic cloud of chlorine spreading across a wide area.
The blaze began at a swimming pool cleaning products company located in Vilanova i la Geltru, a town situated 48 kilometers (30 miles) south of Barcelona. The fire started at 2:20 a.m. (0020 GMT) and quickly escalated, generating a massive and dangerous plume of chlorine smoke that blanketed the surrounding area.
Catalonia Authorities Initially Ordered Residents to Stay Indoors Due to Toxic Cloud
In response to the imminent danger posed by the toxic chlorine cloud, authorities in the affected zone of Catalonia issued an urgent order for residents to remain inside their homes or workplaces.
The Civil Protection service conveyed this critical instruction through social media platform X, emphasizing the need for immediate confinement to avoid exposure to the hazardous fumes from the industrial fire.
Despite the severity of the industrial fire and the widespread toxic chlorine cloud, Catalan emergency services reported on Saturday that no individuals sustained any injuries as a result of the incident. This fortunate outcome came as a relief to authorities and residents in the affected towns.
Mobile Phone Alerts Instructed Residents in Five Towns to Shelter in Place
Residents in five towns within the Catalonia region received direct alerts on their mobile phones, instructing them to remain indoors due to the chlorine gas leak caused by the industrial fire. This proactive measure aimed to minimize potential exposure and safeguard public health during the emergency.
Jorge Vinuales Alonso, the owner of the industrial property where the swimming pool cleaning products company was located, informed local radio station Rac1 that while chlorine itself is difficult to ignite, extinguishing a chlorine fire is extremely challenging. He speculated that a lithium battery might have been the initial cause of the industrial blaze that led to the toxic cloud.
The Industrial Fire Disrupted Transportation in Catalonia
The emergency situation caused by the industrial fire and the resulting toxic chlorine cloud led to significant disruptions in transportation networks across the affected area of Catalonia. Trains scheduled to pass through the region were halted, roads were blocked to ensure public safety, and other planned events were cancelled as authorities responded to the crisis.
Civil Protection spokesperson Joan Ramon Cabello informed the TVE television channel that the industrial fire at the swimming pool cleaning products company was now under control.
