Toxic Cloud Triggers Lockdown for 80,000 Residents After Chemical Warehouse Blaze Near Seville
A massive fire erupted at a chemical storage facility in the La Red industrial park near Seville, Spain, on May 15, prompting authorities to order approximately 80,000 people to remain indoors due to the release of hazardous fumes. The blaze occurred in Alcalá de Guadaíra, located roughly 16 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of the Andalusian capital.
The fire originated in a warehouse operated by Plainsur, a chemical distribution company employing around 30 staff, according to the firm’s website. Emergency services confirmed that all employees were safely evacuated and that no injuries were reported.
Fire crews responded quickly to the scene, working to bring the flames under control and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Television footage showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky and drifting toward the residential areas of Alcalá de Guadaíra.
As a precaution, local authorities issued a public health advisory for residents in the surrounding region, urging them to stay indoors until the danger passed. Several facilities within the industrial zone were also evacuated.
This incident follows a similar chemical fire just five days earlier in northeastern Spain. On May 10, a blaze broke out at a facility storing chlorine for swimming pools in Vilanova i la Geltrú, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Barcelona. That fire led to lockdown orders affecting multiple coastal towns, including Sant Pere de Ribes, Cubelles, Cunit, and Calafell.
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