a polluting cloud deprives local residents of fresh air

The fire in Saint-Chamas (Bouches-du-Rhône) triggered a thick fog made up of fine particles. Ten days after the incident, toxic fumes continue to invade the area of ​​the pond. “It is truly untenable. We are worried about our health, for the health of local residents, especially the elderly and frail“, deplores a resident. Following the release of these fumes, the pollution reached a score similar to that of Beijing, or 140 micrograms per cubic meter, the alert threshold being 80 micrograms.

Residents are forced to keep their windows closed. In schools, playgrounds are unoccupied during break hours. As for outdoor activities, they are strongly discouraged. Didier Khelfa, mayor of Saint-Chamas, had already sounded the alarm on the safety conditions of the factory, because of an excessive amount of storage compared to that authorized.