Authorities ask citizens to stay indoors in four towns after fire in chemical industry

The Catalan authorities have asked citizens to stay indoors in four towns in the Vallès Oriental area after a fire broke out on Wednesday morning in a chemical plant. Twenty-two teams of firefighters are on the scene trying to control it.

Civil Protection activated the chemical risk alert (Plaseqcat) shortly before 9 am local time, especially in the area surrounding Can Bosquerons industrial estate, where the fire began.

Ditecsa Centre Derpin, in the industrial area in Montornès del Vallès, was exactly where the fire started, and their plant, as well as other businesses nearby, were evacuated.

Authorities recommended for citizens in Montornès del Vallès, Vilanova del Vallès, Montmeló, and Martorelles to confine themselves indoors, especially if there was smoke nearby.

They also recommend closing all doors and windows and staying in the most internal room in the house, and avoid turning on heating and air ventilation systems.

Black smoke spread in the region and could be seen from AP-7 highway and as far as Barcelona, some 25 km far from the fire.

🔴 ATENCIÓ:
Es manté el perímetre de seguretat d'evacuació al Polígon industrial Can Bosquerons de Montornès del Vallès.
Actualitzarem la informació quan finalitzi l'evacuació i s'hi pugui tornar a accedir.#PLASEQCAT #ProteccioCivil

— Protecció civil (@emergenciescat) December 11, 2019

By 11:40 am, the Civil Protection tweeted that the evacuation safety perimeter is maintained.