Toxic Chlorine Cloud Forces Lockdown of 160,000 Near Barcelona

A gigantic fire at a chemical depot on the outskirts of Barcelona forced more than 160,000 residents to stay indoors on Saturday. The fire erupted at approximately 2:20 a.m. in Vilanova i la Geltrú and produced a toxic cloud of chlorine over a wide coastal strip.

The warehouse contained pool cleaning chemicals, which made the fire extremely hazardous. The Civil Protection Service told residents of five surrounding towns to stay indoors and close doors and windows. Officials shut roads and railway stations to keep people from accessing the hazard zone.

There were no injuries reported, but emergency officials indicated the fire was difficult to combat due to the chemicals. "It is very difficult for chlorine to burn, but when it does, it is very difficult to put out," said Jorge Vinuales Alonso, the owner of the warehouse. He blamed the fire on a potential lithium battery.

Firefighters reacted with a large deployment and monitored the poisonous cloud for health risks. One firefighter was seen spraying water from a cherry picker to contain the smoke.

The fire was under control by mid-morning, and the confined order was canceled. Authorities expect the chlorine cloud to dissipate slowly now that the fire is out. Local officials are back to normal operations but remain watchful.

The incident occurred between Vilanova i la Geltrú and Calafell and spanned nearly 50 kilometers of terrain. Disruptions in road transport and cancellation of events added to the chaos, though the emergency response acted fast enough to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Mayor Juan Luis Ruiz López thanked his fortune that the worst was over. In his view, due to the coordinated action of firefighters and safety officials, restrictions could be relaxed.