Warning issued to Irish tourists as toxic cloud forces 160,000 people to stay indoors in Spain

Irish tourists near Barcelona are on high alert as Spanish authorities ordered over 160,000 people near the city to remain indoors early on Saturday morning following a fire at an industrial property which released a toxic cloud of chlorine over a vast area. 

The building which went up in flames was storing pool cleaning products and that is why the cloud of chlorine was released after the fire, according to the regional fire service. 

The property was located south of Barcelona in the coastal city of Vilanova i la Geltru. Roads and train stations in the surrounding areas have been closed in order to prevent people approaching the affected area. 

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The Civil Protection Service have asked people in the affected area to not leave their home or place of work.

Continuem treballant amb 20 dotacions #bomberscat i el Grup de Riscos Tecnològics (GRIT) en l'extinció de l'incendi d'indústria a Vilanova i la Geltrú. El foc afecta totalment una nau amb clor i ha generat un important núvol a la zona. #PLASEQCAT @emergenciescat pic.twitter.com/qA7VciVqPf

— Bombers (@bomberscat) May 10, 2025

They have also advised people to keep their windows and doors closed in the at-risk areas. The at-risk areas include Vilanova i la Geltru, Calafell, and areas near Tarragona. 

No casualties have been reported from the incident so far. Units are still being deployed to handle the situation.