Emergency Alert: Toxic Fire in Alcalá de Guadaíra Forces Residents to Stay Indoors
The Town Hall of Alcalá de Guadaíra, located in Seville, has urged its 77,000 residents to remain inside their homes due to a fire at a local chemical warehouse, which has been emitting a significant cloud of toxic smoke since around 1:20 PM. In a statement issued via social media, the town's administration announced that the Local Emergency Plan has been activated and advised residents to take this precaution to avoid potential poisoning risks.
Emergencies 112 Andalusia has reported that evacuation orders have been issued as a preventive measure for the entire industrial estate due to the harmful effects of the smoke resulting from the blaze. Authorities have also advised against circulation in the vicinity, leading to the closure of the A92's shoulder to allow emergency personnel to work undisturbed.
The first emergency call concerning the incident was received at 1:20 PM from Plainsur, the company operating the warehouse, which indicated that an explosion had occurred. Following the event, the company has evacuated all personnel, but it remains unclear if there were any injuries linked to this alarming incident, particularly considering its scale and the hazardous materials involved in the fire.
The Provincial Council of Seville confirmed to EFE that crews from seven fire stations across the region have been activated to respond to the situation. These stations include Alcalá de Guadaíra, Utrera, Arahal, La Rinconada, Mairena del Alcor, Sanlúcar la Mayor, and the duty command in the area.
Founded in 1975, the affected company has specialized in the distribution and marketing of chemical products since 1985. Its facilities cover an area of 11,000 square meters, with 4,500 of that space being enclosed. The warehouse has a storage capacity of 1,000 cubic meters for both bulk and packaged liquid products, along with space for over 5,000 pallets. However, at this moment, the specific materials that are burning in the incident have not been disclosed.
The fire is reportedly producing a smoke cloud so extensive it is visible from locations as far as 80 kilometers away from the incident site, raising further concerns about public safety. Residents are advised to follow all official instructions as the authorities work to resolve this dangerous situation.
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