Fire that engulfed BASF's German chemical complex in Ludwigshafen on Monday has resulted in dead of two firefighters, with one person is still missing. According to the company, the fire in the north harbour at BASF in Ludwigshafen on October 17 has been extinguished. Eight people were seriously injured due to the accident, while 17 others received light injuries.
Fires at the Ludwigshafen site was triggered due to an explosion during work on a pipeline that carried ethylene and propylene product. Ethylene and propylene are important basic materials in the chemical industry. Ethylene is used for the production of insulating materials and solvents, among others, while propylene is used for the production of automotive paints, dispersions and adhesives, etc.
“The BASF fire department and the Ludwigshafen fire department are still on the scene to perform cooling and safety measures. The extinguishing water is being fed into the sewage treatment plant at BASF. There is a barrier between the North Harbor and the Rhine River. Measurements do not show any elevated levels,” said BASF in a statement yesterday.
As the raw material supply is still interrupted, the steam crackers remain shut down. Around 20 other plants are either shutdown or only partially running.
“We are deeply saddened that two employees have died. As fire fighters they were devoted to saving lives. Our deepest sympathy lies with the affected people and their families,” commented Margret Suckale, member of the board and industrial relations director at BASF SE.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%