At least one firefighter has died from injuries sustained during his intervention to extinguish a fire at a hydrocarbon plant in the Colombian city of Barranquilla, as a result of which several civilians have been injured.
According to the authorities, the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning (local time) in the port of Compás, in the north of the city. According to preliminary information, the flames were caused by the explosion of a storage tank.
Several people, including two firemen, were injured as a result of the explosion and had to be hospitalized. One of the firemen died of his injuries while in hospital, according to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.
Users of social networks have soon echoed the situation and have shared videos and photographs in which a vast column of black smoke and high flames can be seen. The wind blowing in the area has hindered the work of the Fire Brigade.
Although the authorities have deployed a large number of emergency services, the presence of flammable material in some areas of the site hindered the extinguishing efforts. For the moment, the firefighters are trying to dampen the surrounding areas to prevent the flames from spreading.
Early in the morning (local time), regional authorities confirmed that maritime operations on the Magdalena River, on the banks of which the port of Compás is located, have been suspended. Also, the mayor of Barranquilla, Jaime Pumarejo, has asked the population near the fire to leave their homes if possible.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
