Toxic Orange Cloud in Catalonia after an Explosión at the Igualada Chemical Plant
The Philippine Embassy in Madrid wishes to advise the Filipino community in the neighboring towns of Barcelona, Spain, particularly in the town of Igualada, where a large orange toxic cloud has spread over the area following an explosion that happened at a chemical plant in said place, to stay indoors until the cloud has fully dissipated.
The regional government of Catalonia said in a statement that the blast occurred when chemical products being delivered to a plant owned by the Spanish company Simar in the city of Igualada, carne into contact, exploded and set a truck on fire on 12 February 2015, Thursday. Firefighters said that the chemicals were nitric acid, which is corrosive and toxic, and ferric chloride. Three people were reported injured due to said explosion.
Due to the inciden!, the Catalan authorities instructed people to shut their windows and stay inside their homes as a precaution.
The confinement arder was partially lifted by 1100 GMT (0600 hrs, European Time), two hours after the explosion, although emergency services continued advising children, elderly people, pregnant women and those with respiratory problems. Pending the announcement from the Catalan authorities declaring the area to be publicly safe from the effects of the chemical explosion, Filipinos in the area are urged not to place themselves in danger by avoiding unnecessary travels near the area or taking pictures of the orange cloud. They are also strongly advised to use gas masks if they need to go out of their homes and to immediately avail of medica! assistance in case of symptoms emanating from inhalation of the toxic chemicals