Explosion rocks chemical site in west Germany
Residents near the factory have been told to close their windows. Photo: WDR/Twitter
An explosion has rocked a chemical industry site in the western German city of Leverkusen, causing some injuries, Chempark operator Currenta says.
Tuesday’s explosion happened in a part of the site where waste is incinerated, a spokesperson for Currenta said.
Chempark, an industrial park for the chemicals industry, said on Twitter it was not yet clear what caused the explosion.
“Residents should please go indoors and keep doors and windows closed,” Chempark said.
#BREAKING: Emergency services responding to large explosion at chemical plant in Leverkusen, Germanypic.twitter.com/4cILPlciQ8
— I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) July 27, 2021
The German government’s civil protection agency warned of “extreme danger”.
Broadcaster WDR had earlier cited witnesses as saying they had heard an explosion and that they saw plumes of smoke at chemicals maker Bayer’s site.
Police said on Twitter that it was closing a nearby motorway.
Bayer and chemicals firm Lanxess in 2019 sold Chempark operator Currenta to Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets for an enterprise value of 3.5 billion euros ($5.6 billion).
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