ALCALA DE GUADAIRA, Spain — A large fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon at a chemical distribution warehouse near Seville, southern Spain, sending thick plumes of dark smoke into the sky and prompting a public health alert for residents in the surrounding area.
The blaze broke out at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time (1120 GMT) in the La Red industrial park in the municipality of Alcalá de Guadaíra, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) southeast of Seville.
The affected facility belongs to Plainsur, a local chemical distribution company that handles a range of flammable and industrial substances. Emergency services received hundreds of calls from alarmed citizens reporting the towering column of smoke visible from several kilometers away.
A spokesperson for Andalusia’s regional emergency services said that firefighters and hazmat units were quickly deployed to the scene, where they began working to contain the flames and assess potential chemical hazards.
“Firefighters are on site and working to extinguish the blaze while ensuring the safety of the surrounding area,” the spokesperson said, adding that there were no immediate reports of injuries or missing persons.
Workers from the warehouse have been accounted for and reported no injuries, though emergency crews were still verifying the site to rule out any lingering threats.
Due to the potential toxicity of the smoke, local authorities issued an immediate shelter-in-place order for the town’s approximately 77,000 residents.
Alcalá de Guadaíra’s town hall urged residents to stay indoors and keep windows and doors shut while emergency crews evaluated the composition of the smoke.
“Until we have more information about the contents of the fire and the chemicals involved, we advise all residents to remain indoors as a precaution,” said a statement from the town hall.
Neighboring businesses in the industrial park were evacuated as a safety measure, and access to the area was restricted. Footage shared on social media showed enormous black smoke clouds billowing over the industrial zone, prompting concerns from the wider Seville metropolitan area.
Plainsur’s website lists various flammable and potentially hazardous substances among its inventory, including ethylene, toluene, and other industrial solvents. These materials, when ignited, can release toxic fumes, increasing the risk of air contamination and respiratory exposure.
Officials from Spain’s environmental and public health agencies were reportedly dispatched to monitor air quality and collect data on the smoke’s chemical composition. A mobile laboratory was also being set up near the scene to test for airborne toxins.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, initial reports suggest it may have started inside the storage facility itself. Local authorities have not ruled out accidental ignition or chemical reaction as possible triggers.
By Wednesday evening, firefighting efforts were still underway, with several crews attempting to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Residents have been asked to follow updates from official channels and refrain from visiting the affected area until the situation is fully under control. Further assessments are expected in the coming hours.