Chemical emergency in Catalonia: five municipalities confined by the fire with 70 tons of chlorine
A dangerous toxic cloud generated by a Fire in a chemical factory for swimming pools In Vilanova I Gelrú. The fire triggered approximately a 02:20 on Saturday 10 May In the structures of the eaten Climina Waterpool, dedicated to the production of swimming pool cleaning products.
The ship concerned, located in the bouquet of the Catalan countries number 18 of Vilanova and Geltrú, stored about 70 tons of chlorineA highly toxic chemist during combustion.
Civil Protection of Catalonia his notice immediately activated Plaseqcat chemical risk plan and sent messages to cell phones of residents in the areas concerned.
Common affected and security measures
The locations under the confinement orders include:
- Vilanova i la geltrú (Barcelona)
- Sant Pere de Ribes (Barcelona)
- Bucket (Barcelona)
- Cunit (Tarragona)
- Calafell (Tarragona)
- The nucleus of Rocky
The authorities have commissioned the residents of Stay in their homes, keep the doors and windows closing and do not use air conditioning devices which can filter the contaminated external air.
Current state of the fire and response to emergencies
The bombers of the Generalitat report that the fire is in stabilization phase And they managed to spread in nearby industrial ships. Until now, The toxic cloud has not caused reported injuriesAccording to the sources of civil protection, which underline that the direction of the wind is mainly directing the cloud towards the sea, reducing the risk of densely populated areas.
Impact on mobility and services
To facilitate the work of emergency equipment, important traffic cuts have been implemented:
- The C-31 motorway It remains cut at the culmination of Vilanova I The Geltrú.
- The C-5 It was closed until early morning.
- The trains of the South R2 line and the regional lines That the municipalities concerned are crossing have suspended their service in these areas.
The city of Vilanova i La Geltrú warned through social networks that the activities of “La Fira Conte Va are deleted!”, Saturday, outdoor sports activities, libraries and “Mercat del Center” and “Mercar de Mar” and “Mercat Ambulant”.
Emergency device distributed
Sixty firefighters With twenty equipment of land work in the area. Specialized equipment in chemical risks They constantly evaluate the situation.
Him Medical Emergency System (SEM) He sent three units that remain on alert. Mossos d’Esquadra and local police They control accesses and guarantee conformity to confinement orders.
Coordination between the authorities
Civil defensefrom its Cecat Coordination Center, he claims constant communication with the municipalities of all the municipalities affected and the respective local police to coordinate the response to this emergency.
The health authorities recommend to any person who experiences Symptoms such as eye irritation, respiratory anguish or discomfort who immediately contact emergency services.
Recommendations for the population concerned
The authorities insist on the importance of strictly following the official recommendations. It is essential to remain in the internal spaces until the confinement order is raised.
If you need to leave an inevitable emergency, it is recommended Protect the airways with appropriate masks and minimize the exposure time outdoors. Remain informed through the official channels Like local radio stations, official accounts on civil protection social networks and interested municipalities.
