Chilean Fruit Packer Hit by Fire
Coltauco, Chile
By ANUK Staff
5.13.13
A fire in Colton, Chile has consumed the contents of a fruit packing facility, including processing and refrigeration equipment. None of the 300 workers were injured by the inferno.
Owner Ramon Achurra said the fire "swept away everything in the room where the fruit is processed and refrigerated, but what worries (me) is the human part.”
Due to the presence of highly combustible gases within the facility, including chlorine gas, nitrogen and ammonia, people within 100 meters of the facility were evacuated by officials, according to the Diario Libertador.
“Now we are evaluating how we're going to give people jobs or reimburse workers,” said Achurra.
It is still unclear what caused the fire. However, it is estimated that an electrical fault that started in the cellar of the packing could have caused the blaze
Achurra indicated that 50 000 cases of fruit that were ready for dispensing and another 250 000 cases waiting to be processed were lost in the blaze.
Our condolences go out to those affected by the fire, from AndNowUKnow.
