Explosions at Battery Recycling Plant in Spain Release Toxic Cloud, Prompting Urgent Warnings from Authorities

Spanish authorities announced on Friday, July 4, multiple explosions at a battery recycling plant in the Azuqueca de Henares area, northeast of the capital Madrid, leading to the spread of a toxic cloud from the black smoke.

Authorities urged around 60,000 residents of Azuqueca de Henares, Cabanillas del Campo, and Alcalá de Henares not to leave their homes, to close windows, and to disable air conditioning systems, according to warnings sent via mobile phones.

The regional authorities in the Castilla-La Mancha area were quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the fire broke out at the plant located 50 kilometers from Madrid, noting that the site specializes in lithium battery recycling, as reported by the public RTVE channel.

Footage circulating on social media showed a thick smoke cloud covering the industrial area in Azuqueca de Henares, with no injuries reported among workers or nearby residents so far. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.