MADRID — Some 150,000 residents in the town of Vilanova i la Geltrú and four surrounding communities south-west of Barcelona were told to lock down for hours after a fire at an industrial warehouse released a toxic cloud of chlorine in the area on Saturday.
Residents were told to stay in their homes and keep windows and doors closed early on Saturday as a preventative measure as firefighters battled the blaze at the plant, which contained up to 70 tonness of pool cleaning tablets, the local civil protection unit said, reported German news agency dpa.
According to the newspaper El Pais, the tablets reacted with the water used to extinguish the fire, creating a toxic cloud.
The lockdown was lifted around 12:15 pm (1015 GMT), though authorities did not rule out further restrictions as they continued to monitor the situation. Residents were urged to remain cautious, especially those with higher health risks, such as the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions.
The fire was under control as of about 7 pm.
As of 7:45 pm, the Medical Emergency System (SEM) had treated seven people, including two in serious condition and one in critical condition.
The cause of the fire was initially unknown.
The irritant gas released in the air can react with the water in the mucous membranes found in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs to form hydrochloric acid, which burns sensitive tissue. –BERNAMA-dpa
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