More than 45 People Injured Due to Explosion in Argentina

A big explosion was reported Thursday night at a chemical factory in the Argentinian region of Cordoba on Thursday night. Preliminary reports say there are at least 46 injured people, according to local media.

The local Fire Department said the explosion was caused by a fire in the building of the Chemicals Rigoni company. They also said that the fire began around 8:00 p.m. local time and that the explosion happened about 50 minutes later, affecting houses and cars in a radius of various kilometers.

​“Many people were slightly injured,” said Francisco Fortuna, Health Minister of Cordoba.

Fortuna added that most of the people were attended and then released, but that three of them were badly injured and were still in hospital.

According to the Argentine agency Telam, neighbors said that the factory produces chlorine products, and that a toxic gas cloud could be seen immediately after the explosion.

Local authorities said that they did not know the cause of the fire and the explosion, and promised aid for the affected families.

Violentisima explosion en alta cordoba, o me abrio las ventanas y todo se puso naranja. @lmcordoba pic.twitter.com/utYoQsxW2L

— Jenry Jank (@queinsultante) November 6, 2014