Explosion and toxic gas cloud erupt at FrieslandCampina factory in Borculo
An explosion and a large orange toxic cloud erupted late Friday at the FrieslandCampina factory site in Borculo after a chemical reaction between two hazardous substances inside a truck, NOS reports. No one was injured, but authorities evacuated the plant and closed roads as a precaution.
The incident began when nitric acid and hydrochloric acid—corrosive chemicals used to clean equipment—came into contact inside the vehicle. A spokesperson for the Veiligheidsregio Noord- en Oost-Gelderland said the cloud contained dangerous substances that could irritate skin and airways.
“Measurements by the fire service showed that the smoke did contain toxic substances,” the spokesperson said. However, the chemicals quickly dispersed into the air without settling on the ground.
Around 1 a.m., the cloud had evaporated and dissolved, according to the safety region. Borculo’s mayor later announced that the situation was “fully under control.”
“There’s no sign at all that it was intentional,” said Mayor Joost van Oostrum of Berkelland, the Gelderland municipality that includes Borculo. “We are neighbors—our town hall is across from another site belonging to the company,” he added.
“We are going to sit down with FrieslandCampina soon to look back on what happened and hear how things are going within the organization,” the Mayor said.
Authorities issued an NL-Alert advising residents nearby to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation systems. Several houses are located near the site, Omroep Gelderland reported.
Emergency services closed access roads, urged people to stay away from the factory grounds, and evacuated the plant as a precaution.
The police cordoned off the area as a crime scene and launched an investigation to determine how the acids were able to mix. “The cause of the incident will be carefully investigated,” the mayor said. Officers are examining all possible scenarios, including deliberate tampering or an operational error.
