Authorities in southern Spain ordered around 77,000 residents in Alcalá de Guadaíra to remain indoors after a large fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in the area’s industrial zone. The blaze, which erupted Wednesday, triggered a series of explosions and sent massive plumes of black smoke into the sky, visible from kilometers away.
Local officials advised residents to shut all windows and doors as a precaution. The town, located about 16 kilometers southeast of Seville, experienced westward winds that helped keep much of the smoke away from the city center. Still, emergency services emphasized caution as the cause of the fire and the contents of the smoke remained unclear.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or toxic exposure. Authorities quickly evacuated the surrounding industrial area and stated that the stay-at-home order was issued as a preventative safety measure while crews continued to assess the scene.
While it remains unknown whether there was any actual danger of poisoning, officials reiterated that the measures were in place to protect public health until more is known about the fire’s chemical components.
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