Germany: toxic fumes alert after massive warehouse fire in Hamburg

Huge flames rise from a fire in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday April 9, 2023.
Huge flames rise from a fire in Hamburg, Germany, Sunday April 9, 2023.   -  Copyright  Jonas Walzberg/(c) Copyright 2023, dpa (www.dpa.de). Alle Rechte vorbehalten
By Euronews  with DPA

Police have warned people in the Hamburg to close their windows after a large fire that engulfed several warehouses sent black, chemical-laden smoke drifting over the city.

Police warned people in the German city of Hamburg to close their windows early on Sunday after a large fire that engulfed several warehouses sent black, chemical-laden smoke drifting over the city.

The fire broke out around 4:30am in the Rothenburgsort district, located in the eastern part of the country's second-largest city. Several warehouses were ablaze, and the plume of smoke could be seen from miles away.

The smoke drifted from there toward the city centre, halting long-distance trains between Hamburg and Berlin and other cities.

A public safety alert conveyed through a mobile phone app advised people in Hamburg to close windows, turn off ventilation and air conditioning, and avoid the area. No injuries have been reported.

Public broadcaster NDR said the fire involved containers with hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and foul-smelling substance, forcing firefighters and police officers in the area to wear breathing apparatus.

200 firefighters from the Hamburg fire brigade had brought the blaze under control by early Sunday afternoon.

Watch Euronews' report in the video above.

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