Explosions, fire at Spanish chemical plant injured dozens

Explosions and a fire at a Spanish chemical factory on May 4 left dozens injured, three of them seriously.

The Requimsa hazardous waste processing plant in Arganda del Rey, near Madrid was rocked by a pair of explosions about five minutes apart.

“I was working under a car and was looking out the door of the workshop when I suddenly saw a ball of fire as big as that black plume we have here … an explosion, the windows busted, the roof got risen, there were cracks,” said a mechanic named Ivan who works at the plant. “We took cover for a bit then we went outside and about five minutes later there was another explosion, even bigger than the first, that really busted the remaining windows. They evacuated the area because it was impossible to breath the air.”

The initial explosions started a fire that ignited more explosions.

As many as 30 people have been reported injured. Two people had burns over at least 30 percent of their bodies and one suffered a cracked pelvis. The other injuries were minor.

Eleven fire units were deployed to contain the flames.

The blasts damaged nearby buildings and broke windows 500 yards away. Police evacuated the immediate area but air testing showed no toxic fumes emanating from the fire.

The factory, which processes hazardous waste and removes solvents for that waste, suffered a serious fire three years ago.