Berlin [Germany], May 4: DW radio reported that the fire occurred on May 3 at a metal technology factory in the southwest of the German capital Berlin . Black smoke billowed from the scene.
According to RT, this factory is owned by weapons manufacturing company Diehl, which produces the IRIS-T air defense system that Germany has provided to Ukraine since the conflict with Russia broke out. A company spokesman confirmed no weapons were produced at the facility.
Firefighters said the factory stored sulfuric acid and copper cyanide. When chemicals burn , they can produce toxic hydrogen cyanide gas.
Firefighters issued a danger warning but later said toxic smoke only flew near the scene and did not spread into the city center. Many schools and stores in the area were closed. The fire department advised local residents to close windows and turn off air conditioning.
More than 200 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire, which broke out in the technical room on the first floor of the building. "The fire burned all four floors of the building. Part of the building collapsed," said Berlin fire department spokesman Adrian Wenzel.
Because there were toxic chemicals inside, firefighters could not get inside to put out the fire. However, no one was injured in the fire and everyone there was evacuated. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
