A large-scale emergency operation is underway in the German town of Mainz after an accident at an industrial plant caused a gas cloud, local authorities said this evening, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The cloud is drifting towards the nearby town of Aschaffenburg, prompting authorities to call on local residents to stay in their homes and evacuate anyone outside.
The German Federal Civil Protection Service said the gas cloud could be toxic.
Local residents were asked to help children and vulnerable people, shelter those at risk and follow the instructions of the police and fire department service.
The authorities also recommended that windows and doors be kept closed and that ventilation and air conditioning systems be turned off.
The cause of the incident at the plant and the full extent of the accident are still unclear.
Mainshaf and Aschaffenburg are neighboring towns, located a few kilometers apart, with the large German city of Frankfurt located to the northwest.