A major fire broke out at around 11 p.m. at a Liège recycling plant on Tuesday evening 22 August. Plumes of dark smoke drifting from the Belgian plant caused air quality concerns throughout the German-Dutch border area near Aachen. The fire was listed as under control by the end of the morning of 23 August, although firefighters continued to douse the plant for several hours.
The fire prompted an air quality advisory for residents up to 80km away, in the German district of Heinsberg, as well as in the Dutch cities of Maastricht, Sittard and Valkenburg. The Belgian alert system also called on the local population to remain inside.
The smoke was accompanied by a foul ‘chemical’ smell, which many were concerned that it had originated from the nearby Chemical Industrial Park Chemelot. The Chemelot incident room, inundated by people calling to check whether an accident had happened at one of the plant there, posted a message on its site this afternoon explaining the source of the smell. It also emphasised that ‘while it shared people’s concerns, it could not answer their questions’. According to the latest reports, the stench is lifting, helped by the wind, which changed direction this afternoon. There is apparently no health risk and no toxic substances have been detected in air measurements