Powerful explosions rocked the Spegazzini Industrial Park in Ezeiza, south of Buenos Aires, on Friday night, igniting a large fire and sending at least 22 people to local hospitals. The blasts affected multiple factories, including chemical and plastics plants, causing chaos and widespread damage in the area.
TV footage and social media videos showed towering flames and a powerful shockwave sweeping through the industrial park. Residents in nearby neighborhoods reported shattered windows and claimed to have seen an object fall from the sky just before the explosions. The exact cause of the blasts remains unknown.
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Hospital director Carlos Santoro confirmed that 22 injured individuals were admitted for treatment. Five factories were reportedly hit, producing goods ranging from tyres to chemical and agricultural products. Fire crews, including 15 emergency teams, have been battling the blaze, which officials describe as complex and likely to last for an extended period.
Mayor Gaston Granados stated that safety operations and evacuations were underway to protect residents. He also addressed early speculation about a possible small plane crash, confirming that authorities cannot verify such claims until the fire is fully under control. The owner of Sinteplast, one of the factories in the park, clarified that his facility was not the source of the explosion but suffered from the shockwave.
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Fabian Garcia, director of civil defence for Buenos Aires province, described the situation as chaotic, emphasizing the ongoing danger posed by the fire and the need for a coordinated emergency response. Investigations into the cause of the explosions are ongoing.