Two people were killed in the explosion and subsequent fire at a biodiesel plant in the northern Spanish region of La Rioja on Thursday afternoon. The dead are employees of the company, it says. The cause of the accident is still unclear.
The factory and industrial area of El Recuenco in the municipality of Calahorra was evacuated on Thursday afternoon following the emergency, El Día de La Rioja newspaper and other media reported, citing security authorities. In addition, some 250 children were rescued on a school trip nearby.
A plume of black smoke and flames could be seen from afar after the blast, according to video footage and photos released by Spanish media and social networks.
All available police and fire units have been sent to the factory to fight the fire and take safety measures, the Calahorra municipality said. The area should be avoided as further explosions cannot be ruled out.
The cause of the explosion, which happened around 1 p.m. in Calahorra about 300 kilometers northeast of Madrid, initially remained unclear.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
