A fire at a chlorine-based swimming pool product factory in Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona) has affected five Catalan municipalities: Vilanova i la Geltrú, the town center of Roquetes (Sant Pere de Ribes), Cubelles, Calafell, and Cunit. Residents of these municipalities were advised to stay at home via the 112 emergency number.
25 firefighters from the Generalitat Fire Service are on site to fight the fire at the chemical products factory. The fire is now considered under control, and there are no injuries.
At 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, the Generalitat activated PLASEQCAT in the emergency phase and ordered the population to be confined within a 1.2-kilometer radius. The warning was initially sent to the municipalities of Vilanova i la Geltrú, the town center of Roquetes (Sant Pere de Ribes), and Cubelles, and later extended to the municipalities of Calafell and Cunit.
The Generalitat’s Civil Protection Agency has urged residents to “lock themselves in their homes or go to a nearby building; close doors and windows; and avoid using air conditioning.”
🔥 Incendi a nau #Vng
— Policia Local Vilanova i la Geltrú ◼ ◼ ◼ ◼ (@PLVNG) May 10, 2025
⚠️ L’empresa, dedicada al manteniment de piscines, conté clor i s’ha creat un núvol que resulta perillós per a la seguretat de les persones.
‼️ S’informa que es CONFINA la població
⛔️ Eviteu apropar-se al lloc
ℹ️ Tanqueu finestres i portes pic.twitter.com/UKJdDYtaVK
Traffic on the C-31 near Vilanova i la Geltrú has also been suspended due to the fire. Authorities are asking citizens to avoid traveling in the region and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities.
The emergency number 112 received a total of 211 calls related to the incident, most of them requesting information, while others reported inconveniences. Emergency services remind residents in the affected area that once the lockdown is lifted, they will receive another message on their mobile phones informing them of the end of the measures.
The Vilanova i la Geltrú City Council has suspended all activities planned for this Saturday. The Mercat del Centre, Mercat del Mar, and the street market have been closed due to the “chlorine cloud.”
Adif has also suspended service on the R2 Sud line between Sitges and Sant Vicenç de Calders due to the incident and reports that medium-distance trains are being diverted via Vilafranca.
