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A fire at the Repsol refinery in Escombreras broke out yesterday but has now been fully extinguished with no injuries reported. The flames broke out just before 6pm on Monday in the older Topping-3 unit, used for crude oil distillation, and sent a huge plume of black smoke high into the sky over the valley. Repsol's own firefighters had it under control within an hour and completely out by 11.05pm, all using their internal resources.

 

"As soon as the incident was reported, the company activated its emergency plans," the firm said in a statement.

 

Cartagena's mayor Noelia Arroyo visited the site and spoke directly with refinery officials. She mentioned hearing from Alumbres residents about "a detonation" and noted the fire mainly affected "a tank that converts crude oil into diesel".

 

Local Policía Local, firefighters and Civil Protection teams were on hand as a precaution but didn't need to step in. Access roads stayed secure throughout, and once the smoke cleared after 9pm, all restrictions lifted.

 

In La Unión, nearly 30,000 people across areas like Alumbres, Escombreras, Portmán, Vista Alegre and Roche got ES-Alert messages on their phones urging them to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and avoid the outdoors until the air cleared.

 

Winds from the southeast pushed the smoke towards La Unión and the Mar Menor, with Mount San Julián shielding Cartagena itself. La Unión Ayuntamiento suspended outdoor activities, while Cartagena told Alumbres folk to take the same care.

 

No risk of spread ever materialised, and Repsol cut off hydrocarbon supplies while letting the fuel burn out safely and cooling nearby areas. Emergency services from 112, including 061 ambulances, stood ready but all returned to base by 11.30pm when things returned to normal. An investigation into the cause is now underway.

 

Mayor Arroyo thanked residents for following advice and praised the quick work of emergency teams. These incidents are rare at Escombreras; the last major one was back in the 1960s.

 

 

Images: @112rmurcia and Ayuntamiento de Cartagena