CAEN, September 26 (WNM/AFP) - A major fire broke out on Thursday morning in a chemical plant in the northern French town of Rouen. As a precaution, the prefecture of Normandy called on residents not to leave their homes. According to the authorities, nobody has been injured so far. The Lubrizol factory is classified as particularly dangerous.

The chemical plant produces additives for lubricants. It is Seveso classified. In Seveso, a region north of Milan, a devastating chemical accident involving the active ingredient TCDD occurred in 1976. The poison caused leaves to wither and poisoned rivers and numerous animals to die. At that time, the authorities reacted far too late.  According to an EU directive, particularly strict safety requirements apply.

The municipalities concerned are Rouen, Bois-Guillaume, Mont-Saint-Aignan, Isneauville, Quincampoix, Saint-Georges-sur-Fontaine, Saint-André-sur-Cailly, Saint-Germain Street, Saint-Germain-sous -Cailly, Cailly, Bosc-Guerard-Saint-Adrien.

Prefect Pierre-André Durand explained that buildings within a radius of 500 meters were evacuated. In addition, the schools remained closed. The prefect reported a "spectacular cloud of smoke" over the area where some 500,000 people live. There is "no sign that the smoke is a danger," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told RTL.