AT LEAST 15 people have been injured, three of them critical after a chemical plant explosion this morning (Thursday) in a Madrid commuter town.
Guardia Civil officers evacuated two high schools, a kindergarten and two primary schools after a series of blasts at the Requinsa solvent warehouse in Arganda del Rey, to the east of the Greater Madrid region.
The force of the explosion was so great that it shattered the windows of the La Poveda high school a kilometre away, although none of the 750 teenagers on the premises, nor their teachers, were hurt.
All buildings, including residential homes, within half a kilometre of the plant have been evacuated.
This is largely as a precaution, since the warehouse is used for storing toxic chemical waste and treatment and restoration of solvents, plus a huge cloud of black smoke has filled the El Guijar industrial estate on the C/ Vereda de las Yeguas.
As yet, details of the injured parties – thought to be employees – have not been released, but three of the 15 are said to be fighting for their lives in hospital.
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