Chemical tank explosion at Germany's largest oil refinery

On the afternoon of January 9, a large explosion occurred at the largest Shell oil refinery in Germany in the Godorf district of the city of Cologne, in the west of the country, but fortunately no one was injured.

A Shell company statement said a tank containing the solvent toluene caught fire and exploded at the plant.

Although firefighters brought the fire under control after about 90 minutes, the explosion created huge columns of black smoke that could be seen from many kilometers away.

Explosion at Shell refinery in Germany. (Photo: DPA)

Authorities also advised residents around the factory area to close and not go out, and many roads have been blocked.

However, these warnings were lifted later that evening when environmental tests around the factory area confirmed that the explosion did not create toxic substances that pose a danger to human health.

Police have set up a hotline to receive calls reporting related incidents.

Toluene is a colorless, flammable, toxic liquid, but is not a carcinogen.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

The Shell refinery, consisting of two complexes, North (in Cologne) and South (in Wesseling), is 6 km away.

The incident is not the first time that Shell has had such an incident. In November 2013, an explosion at the plant’s northern complex injured two people./.

According to VNA