Toxic orange cloud follows chemical blast in northeast Spain

Residents of five northeastern towns in Spain were ordered to stay indoors for two hours after a chemical explosion at a warehouse spread a toxic orange cloud over a wide area.

The blast occurred when products being delivered to a warehouse in the city of Igualada became mixed, exploded and set a truck on fire, according to a spokeswoman for Catalonia’s regional fire service.

She said two people were slightly injured.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 3

Gas masks are worn in the wake of the Igualada chemical blast near Barcelona on February 12th, 2015. Photograph: Reuters

Firefighters said the chemicals were nitric acid and ferric chloride.

The region’s civil protection department ordered some 65,000 residents of Igualada and four nearby towns to stay indoors until the cloud dissipated.

The order was lifted two hours later but maintained for pregnant women, children, elderly people and those with respiratory problems.

Roads in and out of Igualada, located some 40 miles northwest of Barcelona, were cordoned off during the alert and people were urged not to place themselves in danger by taking photographs of the cloud.

Press Association