Chemical Warehouse Fire Prompts Shelter Orders in Southern Spain

ALCALA DE GUADAIRA, Spain, May 14 (Reuters) – A fire erupted on Wednesday at a chemical distribution warehouse near Seville, leading to health warnings for local residents. The blaze started around 1:20 p.m. (1120 GMT) at the La Red industrial park, located approximately 16 km (10 miles) southeast of Seville, according to local emergency services.

A spokesperson reported receiving hundreds of emergency calls about the fire. Luckily, all workers at the Plainsur warehouse were accounted for, and there were no immediate reports of injuries. Emergency services are still verifying this information.

The town hall of Alcala de Guadaira, which has around 77,000 residents, advised people to stay indoors and close their windows and doors due to potentially toxic smoke. Nearby warehouses were evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Plainsur, the company associated with the warehouse, lists highly flammable materials like ethylene, toluene, and other industrial solvents among its products on its website. The situation remains under investigation as authorities assess the impact of the fire.