Toxic cloud sparks lockdown for 160,000 in Spain's Catalonia
A couple, wearing face masks, walks near of a fire at a swimming pool cleaning products company, which caused a toxic cloud of chlorine, in Vilanova i la Geltru, south-west of Barcelona, Spain May 10, 2025. PHOTO:REUTERS
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Authorities in north-eastern Spain in Catalonia, lifted a shelter-in-place order on Saturday after a fire at an industrial warehouse released a toxic cloud of chlorine gas, forcing around 160,000 residents to remain indoors for several hours.
The blaze began at approximately 2:20am local time (0020 GMT) at a facility storing swimming pool cleaning chemicals in the coastal town of Vilanova i la Geltrú, roughly 48 kilometres (30 miles) south of Barcelona.
The resulting plume of chlorine prompted regional emergency services to advise residents in five nearby towns to stay indoors, close windows, and avoid outdoor activity.
Civil Protection issued alerts via mobile phones and social media, urging people to remain at home.
Train services through the area were suspended, roads closed, and public events cancelled as a precaution.
By early afternoon, Catalonia's interior minister, Núria Parlon, announced that the lockdown was being lifted.
However, she cautioned that children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions should stay indoors until further notice, and advised against outdoor exercise.
'There are no casualties,' the Catalan fire service reported, while confirming that a large deployment of emergency crews had successfully brought the fire under control.
The fire service added that teams continued to monitor air quality, tracking wind shifts and toxic gas levels in case renewed confinement was necessary.
The warehouse owner, Jorge Viñuales Alonso, said the blaze may have been caused by a lithium battery. 'It's very difficult for chlorine to ignite, but once it does, it is extremely hard to put out,' he told local broadcaster RAC1.
Emergency services remain on standby in case conditions worsen.
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