No serious injuries after chemical explosion in Bécancour

MONTREAL – Quebec provincial police were called to an industrial park in Bécancour, Que., after receiving a call from a concerned citizen.

At around 11:30 a.m., a local resident saw a yellow cloud of smoke forming above Olin Canada ULC, a company that produces chlor-alkali products.

Local firefighters and the Sûreté du Québec created a security perimeter at 675 Boulevard Alphonse-Deshaies, where a chlorine condenser had exploded on the roof of a building.

According to provincial police, one man was “indisposed” while making a take-out food delivery to a business at the site.

“His life is not in danger, he suffered only minor injuries, difficulties with the smell of the gas,” said Quebec provincial police spokesperson Melanie Dumaresq.

Olin Canada workers remained inside the factory until it was safe to leave the building.

Dumaresq confirmed that at 1:15 p.m., the security perimeter was lifted.

“People can circulate in the industrial park.”

Authorities are investigating the possible cause of the explosion, but according to Dumaresq, “no criminal element was suspected.”