Southern Spain on High Alert After Chemical Plant Explosion in Seville

 Southern Spain on High Alert After Chemical Plant Explosion in Seville

Thick smoke billowed into the sky after a blast at a chemical plant near Seville, triggering alerts for 25,000 locals.

Regional Health Alert Issued Following Chemical Plant Explosion Near Seville    

Seville, Spain – Authorities in Andalusia declared a regional health alert on Wednesday following an explosion at a chemical plant in Alcalá de Guadaíra, approximately 16 kilometres east of Seville’s city centre. The incident occurred midday and produced a towering plume of black smoke visible from several kilometres away.

Emergency services responded swiftly to the scene, where two individuals were reported injured. One plant worker sustained minor burns, while a firefighter fell ill while assisting with containment efforts. Both individuals received medical attention, and their conditions are reported to be stable.

In coordination with local emergency management, authorities evacuated personnel from the affected site and issued urgent safety guidance to residents. Approximately 25,000 people living within a three-kilometre radius were advised to remain indoors, close windows, and use face masks if necessary to limit exposure to potentially hazardous fumes.

The facility involved has been identified by Spanish media as Plainsur, a company specialising in the packaging and distribution of chemical products. Plainsur operates an 11,000-square-metre site within the local industrial park. At this time, the specific chemicals involved in the explosion have not been disclosed, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause and assess any environmental impact.

Footage of the incident circulating on social media and local news outlets shows a dense black column of smoke rising into the sky, prompting widespread concern across the region.

This incident marks the second chemical plant fire in Spain within the past week. On Saturday, a separate blaze at a facility in northeastern Spain prompted stay-at-home advisories for approximately 150,000 residents across five municipalities.

The explosion adds to a recent series of infrastructure-related disruptions across the country. A nationwide power outage on April 28 affected large parts of Spain and extended into Portugal. Authorities have since ruled out cyber sabotage as a potential cause.

In a separate incident, train services between Madrid and Seville were recently disrupted following the theft of copper cabling, highlighting growing concerns about the resilience of key transport and energy networks.

In response to the current chemical fire, emergency teams continue to monitor air quality and evaluate the risk of toxic exposure. Firefighters remain on the scene working to fully contain the blaze, while investigations into the cause of the explosion are still underway.

Although no additional evacuations have been announced, public health officials are urging caution among vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory conditions.

As of now, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior has not released a formal statement regarding the wider implications for national infrastructure security.