- Investigators: cause of explosion at BASF premises unclear
Following an explosion and fire at the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen, which left 18 people with minor injuries, the cause remains unclear. There is no indication of foul play, according to police. The incident resulted in damages of approximately two million euros. The crime scene unit and a fire investigator examined the scene.
The explosion occurred after the release of an organic solvent last Monday in the southern part of the world's largest chemical company's plant. The fire was extinguished by the plant's fire department. 18 people were injured, including 7 firefighters during the extinguishing process.
Several areas of the building were shored up and closed off. The affected facility was shut down. After the incident, environmental monitoring vehicles were deployed both within and outside the plant. The company reported slightly elevated levels of hydrocarbons within the area and adjacent parts. However, there was no threat to the public at any time.
The authorities released a statement, saying, "The following is added: The BASF plant has resumed operations in the unaffected areas, ensuring minimal disruption to their production." Following this, the company announced, "The following is added: An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident and prevent such occurrences in the future."
