“Major emergency” over fire in Paraguay’s Asunción due to possible leak of ammonia
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A large fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning in a meat export company in Asunción and led authorities to declare a “major emergency” and evacuate the area due to a possible ammonia leak.
According to information provided on social networks by the Third Company of the Sajonia Fire Department (one of the most traditional neighborhoods of Asunción), the event took place in the Tablada Nueva area, a few kilometers from downtown, and caused intense smoke visible throughout the city.
Read also: Check out our coverage on Paraguay
The fire broke out in a meatpacking plant belonging to Athena Foods, a South American meat export market leader.
The recommendation of the fire authorities, which sent all its teams to the affected area, is that “the civilian population should avoid the area” due to the declaration of a “major emergency”.
The possible “risk” due to “ammonia leakage” is the primary concern at this time, as explained to the local radio 780 AM the director of Fire Prevention of the Municipality of Asunción, Alejandro Buzó, who insisted on the recommendation to “avoid the immediate area and use a mouth-cover” to avoid toxic inhalation.
According to Buzó, this refrigerator already suffered a fire seven years ago. It clarified that “it is too early” to determine what caused the event, since “it is always assumed that it could have been the electrical system, but further work must be done to determine the cause.”
The possible toxicity in the air has led the authorities to recommend that the population remain in their homes with the windows closed and urge people to avoid traffic in the downtown areas of Artigas and Costanera (on the Paraguay river) due to the intense smoke.
Key Facts
— Deep Dive
— For the complete picture, read our in-depth guide: Paraguay: Washington's Most Valued Ally in Latin America
More: Paraguay news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error
Living in or visiting Asunción? See this month's events and our Asunción city guide with rents, safety and upcoming concerts.