OREANDA-NEWS. A powerful explosion occurred at a waste incineration plant in Leverkusen, Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia. At first, the media wrote about this, later an official confirmation came from the police.

According to preliminary data, two employees of the plant were seriously injured, and five more were missing.

Later, the Welt TV channel reported one dead. He did not give any other details. Earlier it was reported that the life of one of the victims is "under serious threat."

According to local media reports, a lifeless body was found at the scene of the accident after a strong cotton strike. The identity of the deceased is currently being established.

Earlier, the FRG authorities reported that the explosion resulted in injuries for 12 residents. The condition of the four victims is assessed as grave. Emergency services workers extinguished the fire in the emergency area. The cause of the incident is to be determined by specialists.

The explosion occurred at a chemical plant of Currenta on Tuesday morning at about 09.40 (10.40 Moscow time), the reasons have not yet been established, it is known that a tank exploded in a waste processing and storage center. A thick column of black smoke has risen over the city, local residents are urged to keep windows and doors closed, and some roads are blocked for traffic.

Currenta, which owns the Chempark emergency industrial area, is urging residents to lock themselves indoors and keep doors and windows closed.

Traffic in the emergency area is partially blocked.