A chemical explosion at a warehouse caused a terrifyingtoxic cloud in the region of Catalonia and residents from five towns ordered by the authorities to stay indoors.
Catalonia’s Civil Protection authorities ordered people in the towns of Igualada, Odea, Santa Margarida de Montbui, Vilanova del Cami and Jorba to lock themselves at their houses, close all windows and shut down any means of ventilation.
The Local, cited reports from Catalan daily La Vanguardia, saying that the explosion and fire happened at Simar, a chemical distribution company. The explosion started at around 9am on Thursday morning, when the loads of two trucks were mixed as they were being unloaded, causing a fire. Firefighters said the chemicals were nitric acid and ferric chloride. “Unfortunately there isn't much wind in the area so the toxic cloud is taking longer to disperse,” Ramon Espadaler, from the Catalan interior ministry, told El País.
A large, orange toxic cloud spread all over the area and it took two hours for the order to be lifted. Still the order maintained for pregnant women, children, elderly people and those with respiratory problems.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/threatening-toxic-leak-spain