Several hurt in blast at German chemical site

Frankfurt: Two people were seriously injured on Tuesday in an explosion at a chemical park in Leverkusen, western Germany, the site’s operator said, as police urged residents to shelter indoors.

"Several employees were injured in the incident, at least two of them seriously," Chempark operator Currenta said in a statement. "Five employees are currently missing." The explosion could be heard far and wide and sent a thick column of black smoke into the air.

Germany’s NINA warning app sent an "extreme danger" alert to residents, urging them to close all doors and windows and keep the emergency numbers free as much as possible. Currenta said the incident occurred at Chempark’s landfill and waste incineration area in Leverkusen’s Buerrig district, which is separate from the main industrial park that houses numerous chemical companies including Bayer, Lanxess and Evonik Industries.