At least eight injured in series of factory explosions in France

At least eight people have been injured, one of them seriously, following several explosions at a factory in the town of Bergerac, in southwestern France.

As detailed by the deputy prefect of the Dordogne department, Jean-Charles Jobard, the event occurred at around 2 p.m., although the situation “is now under control” and the incident “has no impact” beyond the factory itself.

The authorities have confirmed that for the moment there is one injured “in absolute emergency”, while the other seven are in “relative emergency” condition, as reported by the French newspaper ‘Le Parisien’.

The explosions, whose origin is still uncertain, have been recorded in a factory dedicated to the production of nitrocellulose for ammunition, so the site has been declared a toxic and high fire risk area.

In fact, a fire has been recorded at the site and, although the authorities had reported that it was controlled at first, they have subsequently called on the population to avoid transiting in the area.

For his part, the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has confirmed on social networks the deployment of “significant resources” following the incident and has urged the authorities in the area to activate a crisis center.

In the same vein, the Minister for Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, has conveyed his support to the firefighters and nurses mobilized to the site.