An explosion at a chemical plant in Granby, Quebec, on Oct. 30, prompted authorities to consider evacuating some parts of the town, according to the Huffington Post Canada.
The blast occurred at about 5pm at the Aldex Chemicals plant, located at about 80 kilometers east of Montreal. The incident sparked concerns over possible air pollution but these were soon found to be unsupported.
Firefighters explained that there were no traces of toxic chemicals in the air and that there was no risk for residents. As a result, the evacuation plan was dropped and local people were told that it was safe to spend the night in their homes.
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The fire that started after the blast was contained several hours later but was not put out until the next morning, reports said. The priority was to keep the fire away from the section of the facility where chemicals were stored, according to Pierre Lacombe, director of the local fire department. About 90 percent of the plant had been destroyed, he said.
Local police reported that there were people in the plant at the time of the explosion, but luckily no one was hurt in the incident. The cause of the explosion is still unknown and the investigation is continuing.
Aldex Chemicals' facility has been operating for more than three decades. The plant employed 18 people and manufactured resins used in various industries, including drilling and water treatment.
