Explosion At Chemical Processing Plant Injures Four Workers, Emergency Crews Respond In Prahova County

Ploiesti, Romania— An explosion at a chemical processing plant injured four workers Wednesday morning, forcing an evacuation and sending hazmat teams to Prahova County to secure the site.

Mediafax reported the blast occurred at 9:05 a.m. inside a processing hall handling industrial solvents. Workers were transferring chemicals between tanks. A pressure valve failed. Vapor ignited.

The explosion shattered windows across the complex. A fireball rose 20 meters. Four workers were caught in the blast radius. Two suffered burns to 40 percent of their bodies. Two suffered inhalation injuries and fractures from being thrown by the shockwave.

Plant alarms triggered automatic shutdown. All 62 workers on shift were evacuated to the muster point. Firefighters from ISU Prahova arrived within 12 minutes. They extinguished a secondary fire in a storage tank within an hour.

Inspector Chief Florin Popa said air quality readings showed elevated benzene levels for 90 minutes. A 300-meter exclusion zone was imposed. Residents in nearby Brazi village were told to stay indoors. Readings returned to normal by noon.

The four injured were taken to Floreasca Emergency Hospital and Bagdasar Neurosurgery Hospital in Bucharest for burn treatment. Doctors said two are in critical condition and have been intubated. Families have been notified.

Labor inspectors and prosecutors entered the plant Wednesday afternoon. They seized maintenance logs, valve inspection records, and safety permits. Preliminary findings point to a corroded pressure regulator that had not been replaced in three years.

The plant, operated by a private chemical firm, has two prior safety fines from 2023 and 2024 for inadequate ventilation. Union representatives said workers had warned about leaks last month. Management declined comment.

The Prahova County Prefect said an environmental assessment will follow. The plant remains closed pending inspection. The criminal investigation for negligent injury and failure to ensure safety measures is open.