One dead and two injured in explosion at a battery recycling plant in northern Catalonia

One person has died and two others have been left injured after an explosion at a battery recycling plant in Sant Julià del Llor i Bonmatí, just outside Girona, according to the Fire Department.

One of the injured people is in a serious condition and the other less seriously. The pair have been treated by the emergency medical response unit and transferred to the Josep Trueta Hospital in Girona.

The Fire Department received warning of the explosion at 6.15 am and activated five teams to extinguish the fire.

The Technological Incidents Group (GRIT) is also working on the scene.

Seven ambulances and a team of psychologists have been activated by the medical teams.

Mayor: Fourth serious accident

The mayor of Bonmatí, Elena Ribas, expressed regret over the latest incident at the plant and called for its permanent closure.

"Since we took office in 2023, this is the fourth serious accident. It's a shame that people have to die or be injured for us to be taken seriously. It should never have come to this," she said.

"Around 6am, there was a very loud explosion that shook the windows of houses nearby," the mayor said.

"They've told us the boiler in one of the furnaces exploded. Unfortunately, one person has died, and two were injured, one of them seriously."

Ribas explained that the plant is located just 60 meters from residential buildings.

"This business should not be in this town or any town or anywhere near homes. This business should be situated away from urban areas," she said.

An investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the accident.