BARCELONA: More than 160,000 residents were ordered to stay indoors on Saturday after a fire at an industrial warehouse in Vilanova i la Geltru, near Barcelona, released a toxic chlorine cloud. The fire broke out at dawn in a facility storing pool cleaning products, prompting a large-scale emergency response from regional fire services.
The Civil Protection service quickly issued alerts across five coastal districts, urging residents to remain indoors and keep windows and doors shut. The affected area stretched from Vilanova i la Geltru to Calafell, near Tarragona. Authorities also closed several roads and train stations to prevent public access to the danger zone.
“No casualties” have been reported, officials confirmed. Fire crews deployed numerous units to battle the flames and monitor the gas emissions from the site. The fire service stated it was tracking the spread and toxicity levels of the chlorine plume in real time.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but emergency protocols were activated swiftly to reduce public exposure to the hazardous gas. Authorities have urged continued caution and compliance with safety instructions until the cloud fully dissipates and air quality levels are deemed safe.
