Fatal blast at chemical plant in Leverkusen leaves one dead

(Update: adds info on fatality, injured, missing people)

Berlin, Jul 27 (EFE).- At least one person died and 16 others were injured Tuesday in an explosion at a chemical industrial complex in Leverkusen, western Germany.

Four other employees were missing, a statement from the Chempark site operator Currenta said, adding that the condition of two of the injured employees is serious.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the death of an employee. Our special condolences go out particularly to the relatives, but also to the colleagues who have worked with him,” Chempark manager Lars Friedrich said.

Rescue work was ongoing at the industrial estate, where several companies including multinational pharmaceutical Bayer, have plants.

Currenta said the causes of Tuesday morning’s explosion were “unknown”.

The company also urged residents of Leverkusen, a suburb of Cologne, to stay indoors, “turn off air conditioning and, as a precaution, keep windows and doors closed.”

The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance warned that the fallout from the blast could be extremely dangerous and advised local residents to keep their doors and windows shut.

The chemical park in Leverkusen is one of the largest in Europe, hosting close to 70 companies. EFE

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