Seine-Maritime: Explosion at an industrial site

A classified installation exceeding this activity threshold must, prior to being brought into service, submit an application for authorisation, demonstrating that the risk is acceptable. The Prefect may authorise or refuse operation. If authorised, a prefectural authorisation order is drawn up on a case-by-case basis. The explosion is said to have been heard across much of the Dieppe conurbation. The site is not classified under SEVESO contrary to what some media outlets claim.

 The school’s internal emergency plan was activated at around 11.20 am.

 The toll stands at 11 people involved, including 2 fatalities.

 40 firefighters, several police and SAMU crews – including the VIKING 76 helicopter (SAMU 76) based at Rouen University Hospital – are at the scene. The sub-prefect of Dieppe, Jehan-Eric WINCKLER, has taken on the role of director of rescue operations; he is coordinating the emergency services deployed in conjunction with the rescue operations commander (who is in charge of the fire service at the scene). The mayor of Dieppe has also visited the scene. A medical and psychological emergency support team has just been set up at Dieppe Hospital, and the town hall has made a municipal hall available to accommodate those who have been evacuated. At 14:45, the prefecture reported that the fire was now under control. The exact causes of the explosion are unknown at present; all that is known is that it occurred during maintenance work carried out by a subcontractor in an ATEX (ATmospheric EXplosive) zone. The public prosecutor in Dieppe is expected to launch an investigation once the emergency services have completed their work.