Explosion at battery plant causes toxic cloud

At around 7:00 PM on Friday, July 4, 2025, a series of explosions caused a huge fire at the ‘Envirobat España’ lithium battery recycling plant in the Ródano Industrial Park in Azuqueca de Henares, Guadalajara (Spain). The incident released a toxic cloud that affected the nearby towns of Alovera and Cabanillas del Campo, prompting the authorities to issue urgent shelter-in-place orders to approximately 60,000 residents. Residents were advised to stay indoors and turn off their air conditioning systems to avoid inhaling hazardous fumes. According to the company owner, one plant worker and a firefighter received medical attention, and all 22 employees present at the time were affected by the incident. The ES-Alert system warned residents not to approach the area, allowing emergency teams to work without obstruction. Firefighting units from Sigüenza, Guadalajara, Azuqueca, and Madrid responded, alongside local police, Civil Guard agents, forest firefighters, Alovera’s Civil Protection, and emergency medical services. At 20:15, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha activated the PLATECAM Territorial Emergency Plan in alert phase for the entire province of Guadalajara. The 112 Emergency Coordination Service has notified local authorities and intervention groups to implement appropriate prevention and response measures as the situation continues to evolve.