- The mayor warns of a “complex” fire that is expected to last a long time.
- Five factories were affected, including chemical and plastics plants.
- 15 firefighting teams were deployed to combat an intense industrial fire.
Powerful explosions rocked an industrial area and sparked a fire south of Buenos Aires on Friday night, officials said, and at least 22 people were sent to hospital.
The incident occurred inside the Spegazzini Industrial Park, in Ezeiza, where multiple factories were affected. “The explosions and fires that are occurring in the different factories are enormous,” said Gastón Granados, mayor of Ezeiza where the events took place. He said the cause of the explosions was unknown.
Television footage showed thick smoke billowing from the industrial area, while dramatic videos on social media captured towering flames and a powerful shock wave spreading across the area.
The explosion, which was felt in Ezeiza and Cañuelas, broke windows in nearby homes, and some residents told local media they saw an object fall from the sky moments before impact.
Hospital director Carlos Santoro said his facility had received 22 injured people. According to local media, five factories were affected by the explosions and fire. In the industrial zone there are companies manufacturing tires and chemical products, among other goods.
Granados said the flames affected several plants in the industrial park. “One of them is a chemical plant, where the warehouses burned down, and where there are facilities related to agriculture and fertilizers. There is also a plastics plant called Plasticos Lago,” he told local media.
Granados described the scene as chaotic. “It's all very confusing. We are trying to ensure safety in the area and evacuate anyone who may be nearby. Fire crews are working to combat the intense fire that is burning in all areas,” he said. The mayor confirmed that 15 fire crews responded to the emergency.
“It is a complex fire. It will be a long fire,” said Fabián García, director of civil defense for the province of Buenos Aires.
Granados also addressed initial speculation that a small plane may have been involved, saying officials “cannot confirm or deny that a plane crashed” until the fire is completely under control.
The owner of Sinteplast, a factory located within the industrial park, clarified that his plant was not the origin of the fire, despite initial reports.
“The explosion destroyed everything, doors, roofs, some structures and fire pipes were blown up. Firefighters are on the scene. It was a terrible explosion. It did not reach our factory, but the shock wave shook everything,” he told local media.
— With additional information from AFP
