First, a chemical factory in Italy goes up in flames. Then another fire breaks out in a plastics factory in the region. The fear of toxic fumes is great.
Teramo – As a precautionary measure, schools and kindergartens in communities near Pescara (Italy) are closed. Civil protection is calling on the population in the Abruzzo region to urgently close their windows and only leave their homes in an emergency. After two serious major fires on Monday (September 30th) in Scerne di Pineto in a chemical company and in a plastics factory in Chieti Scalo, the consequences are still unclear. Dark columns of smoke rose into the sky and could be seen for miles.
Fear of poison cloud in Italy: Black smoke and high flames in the chemical factory in Scerne di Pineto
“I am very worried because the company produces and processes plastics. There is therefore a potential risk of toxic fumes being released,” the news agency quoted Adnkronos the mayor of Chieti, Diego Ferrara. A fire broke out at the Mag.ma Spa company in the San Martino di Chieti district on Monday evening around 9 p.m.
Firefighters had been fighting flames in a chemical factory in the industrial area of Scerne di Pineto since Monday afternoon following an explosion. The fire broke out there at around 4 p.m. after an explosion. Then huge clouds of black smoke formed.
According to media reports, the fire in the company that produces solvents has now been almost completely extinguished. Only smaller outbreaks would have to be combated by the fire brigade. 16 units with nine emergency vehicles are still on site, reported ilcentro.it.
After a major fire in Scerne di Pineto (Italy): Toxic substances within a radius of one kilometer
Results of the first analyzes of four air samples from the regional environmental protection authority (Arta) are already available. Samples taken shortly after the Kemipol fire in Pineto contained significant concentrations of organic chemical substances potentially harmful to human health. However, the concentration of toxic substances is limited to the immediate vicinity of the fire site. Already one kilometer away from the source of the fire, the situation appears to be less critical and the contamination is significantly lower.
Breathe a sigh of relief in the Italian city of Pescara
“Concentrations of pollutants produced by combustion were high in the immediate vicinity of the eruption, but progressively decreased with increasing distance,” explained Arta general director Maurizio Dionisio, according to one notice. The air quality monitoring units stationed in the city of Pescara did not detect any values above the limit values.
In the next few hours, the mayors of the affected communities want to decide whether the orders will continue to be maintained. Or whether the schools and kindergartens can reopen, whether fruit and vegetables from the garden can be eaten safely and whether the animals can go back to pasture. (ml)
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