The chemical alert protocol was activated in Sabiñánigo to protect the public from possible toxic clouds.
A fire at the Orache Desinfección plant in Sabiñánigo (Huesca) forced the authorities to activate the external emergency system. Three workers were injured with symptoms of inhalation poisoning and taken to hospital for treatment.
Given the scale of the fire, the Government of Aragon activated the Special External Emergency Civil Protection Plan at level 1 at 20:30, while chemical alert sirens sounded across the town, telling residents to shelter in their homes.
The chemical alarm sirens, recently installed by Lafcarr as part of Sabiñánigo's industrial safety protocol, were the main channel of communication with the public during the emergency. Through this mass warning system, residents were asked to close their windows and stay indoors until the fire was under control.
The system, which was due to be launched in an upcoming drill, has sirens strategically located at the Ercros plant, Parque Pirineos and Puente Sardas, providing audible coverage of the whole town.
Special Civil Protection Plan activated at level 1
The incident led the Government of Aragon to declare level 1 of the Special External Emergency Civil Protection Plan, meaning it could be managed with the resources assigned under the plan, without the need for immediate outside support.
Seveso regulations and chemical risks
The company concerned, Orache Desinfection, is subject to the European Seveso regulations on controlling the risks of accidents involving dangerous substances. These require industries to have action plans for possible chemical incidents, although in this case the plant is in the lower tier of the classification.
Once the fire was under control, the Lafcarr sirens sounded again to signal the end of the alert and a return to normal.
Media coverage of the incident
- Fire at a chlorine plant in Sabiñánigo, Huesca, forces residents to shelter in place (La Sexta)
- Chlorine plant fire forces all of Sabiñánigo to shelter for two hours and leaves three workers with mild poisoning (Heraldo)
- Toxic cloud from a chemical reaction at a factory confines Sabiñánigo for two hours (El Periódico de Aragón)
- Alert in Sabiñánigo after fire in a chlorine mixer (El Español)
