This afternoon around 2:00 in the Netherlands the company Chemie-Pack suffered a catastrophic explosion and fire in an industrial estate in the southern town of Moerdijk.
The company specializes in processing chemicals for rubber, paint, and agriculture.
I have images of Bhobal in my head.
The following is from Google translates
The surroundings are flames of dozens of meters high to see. There are also huge flames of up to 40 meters high. The huge low-hanging clouds of smoke floating above the village of Moerdijk even Dordrecht, Sliedrecht and Hollands Diep and Hoeksche Waard. On satellite images is from half past two to see a smoke plume. Moerdijk sound trucks driving through the residents to call to keep windows and doors closed.
Very dangerous
According to a firefighter is "perilous stuff" that sits in the smoke. It also says an employee of Chemie-Pack, which camera would not respond. According to employees at the company's 400,000 liters heavy carcinogenic chemical material stored. Some staff are crying to the fire watch.
Closed
On the instructions of emergency services is the shipping on the Hollands Diep stopped. The Hollands Diep flows north from the industrial estate. Moerdijk from the exits to the A17 are closed. The police are still looking at whether the A16 is also nearby is closed. The fire department says the Moerdijk Bridge may be closed if the smoke continues to expand eastward.
Massive
Fire departments from all municipalities and West-Brabant Tilburg are torn. Shell helps the brigade to extinguish, and there are two crash tenders, a fire giant used. The fire department says that the business is not easily accessible because of the water. Also, there are ambulances and crews from the fire road.
Dutch newspaper account
Live link for people who can understand Dutch and want to help
Updates to follow.
Update 8:52 Pacific Time
Anybody speak Dutch? I'm watching this media outlets twitter feed, and I can google translate it, and I've already seen some things that are a little disturbing
Kpn mobile network southwestern Brabant is already 20 minutes out. Overload doo
Gigantic explosions
Many people call us. A lady from Moerdijk says there is no sound trucks in Moerdijk ride to warn.
UPDATE MOERDIJK The police are "poisonous and caustic" chemicals in fire. In the field occur multiple explosions
"The cloud has now reached Dordrecht, ANP reports the radio bulletin.
Updates to follow.
Update 9:30 Pacific time.
A little reorganization of the diary here I want to put all the link resources in one place. I can tell I'm going to get a lot of help here, and I would normally thank everyone individually, but I'd like to give a global thanks and just use you.
Google earth link to fires location
Local coverage
De Volkskrant (with video clips), nationwide
Het Parool Amsterdam
progressive Christian, nationwide
Chemi-Pack's corporate website
Radio Netherlands Worldwide (English)
NOS link
RTV Rijnmond Radio Bulletin: "Ministry of Security has issued the highest alert."
6:36 p.m.
Update 10:20
There has apparently been a news conference where the mayor of the town of Moerdijk has spoken. Here are some things I gleaned from the twitter feed of what was said.
BBC News: The Mayor of Moerdijk: "It could be that the company four years ago, apenalty has been imposed"
the mayor does not know much about the penalties.
In the village of Moerdijk is really no siren went off. This is conscious, because the village is not under the smoke. Denie said that after the press conference.
The mayor says there is no indication that the company has violated certain safety rules.
There have been no casualties reported.
No hazardous substances. The fire department says at a press conference in Zevenbergen that no substances dangerous to humans have been detected.
It has also begun to rain in the area of the fire, and people can apparently smell the blaze in Utrecht.
Update 12:04 Pacific Time
20.25 hours: Fire flares up again
Several reporters on the spot report that the fire flaring up again. Probably there is a new warehouse caught fire. Again there are flames to see tens of meters high.
19.51 hours: Odour complaints
Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond: "No harmful substances were measured, but odor complaints.'s Raining now so that the particles come down. It is advisable to rinse the shoes go inside."
18:02 Smoke above Barendrecht
Fire department Region Rotterdam: smoke now hanging over Barendrecht, at the moment no hazard to our region so sirens have not been activated. But we are on standby in case further action neede
18:01: No persons reported injured
Willem van Hooijdonk, Middle and West Brabant police spokesman: "As yet no persons reported injured. Waterways in the vicinity have been closed to ship traffic. Fire is still a long way from being under control."
17:59: Fire still far from being out
NOS reporter Kees van Dam says that the fire looks like it is becoming stronger instead of weaker, despite the efforts to fight it. There is a new explosion.
17:52: Crisis.nl
A crisis hotline is set up with telephone number 0800-1351. The website crisis.nl goes online.
17:51: New explosions
New explosions visible behind NOS reporter Kees van Dam during the live telecast.
17:38: Explosions
From on the spot, NOS reporter Paul Sanders reports an explosion and a big fireball. Confirms toxic and corrosive chemicals.
17:36: Police
Police report that release of toxic and corrosive chemicals has occurred.
17:35: Fire spreads
The fire has spread to the neighboring Wärstilä plant, which makes parts for airplanes and large industrial machinery.
Editorial note. Everyone has their own level of what they feel is threatening. Until the civil authorities of Holland lower their level of alert from it's highest possible I will continue to refer to the situation as threatening.
Update 2:40 Pacific Time
22:52: Part of superhighway A17 also closed
The Dutch automobile club ANWB reports that superhighway A17 between the interchanges Noordhoek and Klaverpolder has been closed in both directions. Furthermore, train traffic has been shut down between Dordrecht and Lage Zwaluwe.
22:25: Mayor & fire chief's press conference
Mayor Denie announces that the fire department plans to blanket the fire with foam. At that time, in the Moerdijk town center the disaster warning sirens will sound. The foam blanket is intended to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading to the scrap recycling depot next door. As foam is applied to it, the site will give off dense smoke for up to two hours. This can lead to disagreeable odors and irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory passages. Residents of areas to the north of fire should stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and turn off any electric-powered ventilation.
22:13: Superhighway partly closed
At behest of the fire department, two lanes of highway A16 direction Rotterdam and two exits of highway A17 have been closed off. The fire department intends to spray the fire in Moerdijk with a layer of foam, possibly forming dense smoke. For that reason a part of the superhighway will be closed.
20:59: Safety Research Council
The Safety Research Council has launched an investigation into the fire in Moerdijk, a council spokesman announced Wednesday evening. The first batch of data is already being collected. Researchers seek to determine the cause of the fire and background factors involved, and will scrutinize the response to the crisis, said the spokesman.
20:30: South Holland South environmental agency: be careful
The Rotterdam-Rijnmond regional safety authority and the South Holland South environmental agency say that people need not worry about the soot particles in the rain, since (so far) no hazardous substances have been detected. However, they still advise care be taken, as soot is not good for one’s health, ever.
20:25: Fire gains new strength
Various reporters on the scene are saying that the fire has gained new strength. Probably a new storage shed caught fire. Once again flames can be seen shooting a hundred feet high or more.
20:10: Fire spreads again
NOS reporter Marjolein Hogervorst says that once again the fire has spread to a further building, where Chemie-Pack offices were probably located. The fire engines are taking up new positions. Firefighting vehicles from the Dutch army are now also being deployed on the site.
19:51: Complaints of bad-smelling air
Rotterdam-Rijnmond regional safety authority: "So far measurements have detected no harmful substances, though people are complaining about the smell. It is now raining which will take particulates out of the air and onto the ground. We recommend people to rinse off their shoes before going inside."
19:50: Rain
It has now begun to rain in the affected region. There is a danger that soot particles will now end up in the soil.
18:58: No complaints
Rotterdam-Rijnmond regional safety authority: "So far there are no reports of complaints or symptoms; the measurements have not yet come up with anything. We're preparing to take measures in case they prove necessary. The Rotterdam-Rijnmond region has offered the neighboring regions operational assistance. It's possible that later in the evening people in Barendrecht and Ridderkerk will smell smoke from the fire. The situation is being continually monitored. At the moment no further measures are required.
Update 3:50 Pacific Time
Signal: worst is over
The fire department has given the signal that the worst is over. Over most of the site, the foam blanket has put out the fire. However, finishing the job and extinguishing the fire completely is still expected to take all night.