Smoke billows from the country's largest gas-fired power plant in Brussels. Photo: AFP/Emmanuel Dunand
Brussels (People’s Daily) – Police urged residents in southern and western Brussels to “close windows and doors” Saturday afternoon to avoid hazardous air, local media reported.
Authorities issued an alert to local residents via text message stating, “A fire at Engie’s facility in Drogenbos – toxic smells: close doors and windows, shut down ventilation with air coming from outside, remain indoors.”
Area motorists were advised to turn off car ventilation systems as nearby roads had been partially closed.
Locals complained of a “smell that stings the nose” in an area covering several kilometers. Cold temperatures and windless climate make it easier for toxic chemicals to linger. Residents in south Brussels complained of a “carbolic acid” smell. Authorities are now considering evacuation plans for the area.