Spain: At Least Two Dead and One Missing After Explosion at Factory

An explosion at a factory near Alicante in southeastern Spain has resulted in at least two fatalities and left two individuals seriously injured, according to firefighters who are also searching for one missing person.

The incident took place in an industrial area of Ibi, located approximately 40 kilometers from downtown Alicante, at a facility that manufactures expanded polystyrene. The alarm was raised shortly before noon.

“This was not a fire; it was indeed an explosion,” clarified the firefighters, indicating that the building’s boiler may have been the source of the blast.

“As a result of this explosion, part of the industrial structure collapsed; the roof caved in, and about half of the building’s surface fell, leading to the collapse of several interior walls as well,” they added.

Rescue operations were still ongoing early in the afternoon.