An explosion followed by fire destroyed the oldest of 3 warehouses at a farm cooperative housing some 100 tonnes of phytosanitary products and 26 tonnes of sodium chlorate. About 20 people entered a state of shock. The shockwave shattered window panes within a 500-m radius. Jugs were sent spraying. First responders evacuated 70 neighbours. Most of the extinction water was recovered. The water level was monitored by means of 2 piezometers and controls placed on adjacent wells. No pollution was detected a full month after the incident. Smoke damaged the land’s vegetation over a 500-m distance. Neighbours complained of damage to crops grown on adjoining plots. A specialist subcontractor was commissioned to remove the resultant waste to appropriate treatment centres. A Prefecture’s order banned onsite chlorate storage while mandating the use of outside consultants both to model the effects of this accident on the site’s natural environment and to conduct an audit of the safety management organisation introduced by the operator.

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