News / Germany

One killed, 6 missing in German chemical plant fire

Monday, 17 October 2016 6:02 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 17 October 2016 6:22 PM ]

Firemen try to extinguish fire in the chemical plant of the BASF site in Ludwigshafen, western Germany, on October 17, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

An explosion at a chemical factory in southwestern Germany has killed one person and left at least a dozen others missing and injured.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT) on Monday at giant BASF chemical factory in the western city of Ludwigshafen, according to local authorities.

"We regret to announce one dead, at least six injured and at least six missing," said Uwe Liebelt, the BASF plant manager.

He added that the blast happened following a fire triggered during work on a pipeline that transports raw materials to shipping and the storage tanks located nearby.

A huge blaze and a large plume of grey smoke could be seen rising from the complex, with hundreds of firefighters deployed to the site to extinguish the fire.

"Emergency services from the whole region are on the scene to prevent the fire spreading to other parts of the plant," Ludwigshafen city authorities said in a statement earlier in the day.