Explosion at Sherbrooke plant claims 2 lives

2 people were found dead after an explosion ignited an inferno at an Eastern Townships plant.

According to the Gazette, the explosion occurred at 1:30pm on Thursday afternoon at the Neptune Technologies and Bioressources Inc. plant in the Sherbrooke industrial area. The resultant fire which followed sent black toxic smoke in the sky that was visible from many kilometres away.

Sherbrooke fire-cheif Gaetan Drouin told the paper that the plant contained a vast amount of acetone, a highly flammable ingredient in paint thinner and nail polish remover.

The black toxic cloud of smoke which may have caused headaches and nausea did not affect residential areas as the wind blew it away from danger zones.

The plant was also undergoing an expansion at the time. In addition to the dead, 19 were taken to hospital with some in critical condition.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear.

 Flickr photo by: billaday