Chemical Plant Explosion Near Seville Triggers Regional Alert and Safety Measures
Authorities in southern Spain declared a health emergency on Wednesday following a powerful explosion at a chemical facility near Seville, which sent a massive column of black smoke into the air and led to urgent safety advisories for tens of thousands of residents.
The incident took place around midday at an industrial site in Alcalá de Guadaíra, approximately 16 kilometers east of Seville’s city center.
Two individuals sustained injuries: a plant employee suffered minor burns, and a firefighter fell ill while responding to the emergency, according to officials from the Andalusian regional government.
Emergency crews promptly evacuated workers from the premises and advised approximately 25,000 residents within a three-kilometer radius to remain indoors, shut their windows, and wear face masks if necessary to limit exposure.
The chemical company at the center of the blast, identified by local media as Plainsur, operates out of an 11,000-square-meter facility within the area’s industrial zone. Plainsur is known for packaging and distributing various chemical substances, though authorities have not yet specified which materials were involved in the explosion.
Dramatic footage shared on social platforms and news outlets captured thick, dark smoke rising high above the region, visible from kilometers away.
Spain’s public broadcaster TVE and local newspaper Diario de Sevilla confirmed that the fire originated at Plainsur’s site.
This marks the second chemical plant incident in Spain within days. Just last Saturday, a fire at a facility in northeastern Spain led to similar shelter-in-place orders affecting 150,000 residents across five municipalities.
The explosion adds to a growing list of recent disruptions to Spain’s infrastructure. On April 28, a massive power outage impacted both Spain and neighboring Portugal, though officials have ruled out cyberattacks. Additionally, train services between Madrid and Seville were recently interrupted due to the theft of copper wiring.
Authorities are closely monitoring air quality in the affected region and evaluating potential chemical exposure risks. Firefighters continue working to bring the blaze under full control, while investigations into the cause of the explosion remain ongoing.
Although no further evacuations have been ordered, health officials advise at-risk populations—such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues—to take extra precautions.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has not yet released an official statement regarding the incident’s broader impact on national infrastructure security.
