Several fires and explosions occurred in a chemical plant manufacturing organic peroxides.

Faced with the arrival of a hurricane in the region (ARIA 50399), the operator took the necessary precautions and in accordance with the established industrial protocol: plant operations were shut down, emergency generators were mobilised while other generators were brought to the site to supply storage buildings (containing 227 t of peroxides) in the event of a power failure, refrigerated containers were mobilised on site as an additional safeguard measure.

The hurricane’s passage resulted in the plant being flooded, water rising to 1.80 m and the site’s electricity supply being cut off. The unexpected rise in water levels resulted in the loss of the permanent generators, backup generators and a liquid nitrogen emergency cooling system. The site was no longer accessible.

The operator transferred its products to 9 containers refrigerated by diesel engines, but the rising waters submerged the engines.

As the containers heat up, the operator feared the violent outbreak of fire. The local authorities set up an evacuation zone with a radius of 2.4 km

Thursday, around 2 am, 2 explosions occurred followed by a fire which resulted in the emission of black smoke. Exposure to the smoke could result in irritation.

In a complaint filed against the operator, it was alleged that this smoke caused bodily harm to the first responders and others. Several administrative authorities conducted investigations to determine the operator’s share of responsibility in the accident and its consequences.

Plant officials indicated that it is inevitable that the same thing would happen to all the containers. A new fire broke out the following Saturday at 1 pm. The operator then authorised the authorities, and in collaboration with them, to conduct controlled fires in the containers which had not yet caught on fire. These operations were concluded on Sunday.

The evacuation perimeter set up around the site was lifted the following Monday.