At Spain, an industrial facility at Alcalá de Guadaíra, which is roughly 16 kilometers east of Seville’s city center, experienced a chemical plant explosion this afternoon. This sudden blast has triggered an emergency alert across southern Spain and raised concerns about the safety of chemical plants in the region.
Details of the Seville Chemical Plant Explosion
According to Andalusian regional authorities, two people were injured in the explosion: one plant worker suffered minor burns, while a firefighter fell ill while responding to the incident. Local emergency teams quickly evacuated all employees from the facility. They issued urgent instructions for residents living within a three-kilometer radius—approximately 25,000 people—to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and wear masks if necessary to avoid inhaling potentially harmful chemicals.
The company involved in the explosion, identified by Spanish media as Plensur, operates a large 11,000-square-meter facility specialized in packaging and distributing chemical products. However, authorities have not revealed which chemicals were involved in the explosion. Dramatic footage shared on social media showed thick smoke rising high into the sky, visible from several kilometers away.
Rising Concerns Over Industrial Safety in Spain
This incident marks the second major chemical plant explosion in Spain within a week. Days before, 150,000 people in five towns in northern Spain were ordered to stay at home as a precaution after a fire at another facility.
The Seville explosion comes amid a series of recent disruptions to Spain’s critical infrastructure. On April 28, a nationwide power outage affected Spain and its neighbor Portugal, though officials ruled out cyber sabotage. Additionally, recent copper cable thefts have disrupted train services between Madrid and Seville.
Authorities continue to monitor air quality and chemical exposure risks while firefighters work diligently to bring the fire fully under control. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Although no new evacuation orders have been issued, health officials have advised vulnerable groups—including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions—to remain cautious.
This chemical plant explosion in Spain underscores the importance of industrial safety and infrastructure resilience in the region. Spain’s Interior Ministry has yet to comment officially on the wider implications for national infrastructure security.
