Bombarral, Portugal, July 9, 2026 (Lusa) - Emergency services evacuated one hundred and fifty people from a fruit warehouse in Bombarral on Thursday after a toxic gas leak; twelve people went to the hospital, and seventy-nine received care at the scene, according to a Civil Protection source.

A source from the Western Region Emergency and Civil Protection Sub-Command reported that, at around 9:00 a.m., authorities issued an alert to evacuate 151 workers from a fruit warehouse following the release of sulphuric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

Of the 151 workers, 12 were taken to the A&E department at Caldas da Rainha, part of the Western Regional Health Unit, and 79 were treated at the scene for gas inhalation, with their condition considered minor.

Sixty remained outside the premises.

According to the same source, a fault in the weighing system caused the release of the gases.

The company resumed operations at 2 p.m., Pedro Lourenço, commander of the Bombarral Fire Brigade, told the Lusa news agency.

When contacted by Lusa, the company preferred not to comment.

At the scene, in the district of Leiria, emergency services from Bombarral, Torres Vedras, Cadaval and Caldas da Rainha, along with the Red Cross and the GNR, were present, as well as the emergency medical and resuscitation vehicle from Caldas da Rainha, totalling 31 personnel and 14 vehicles.

FCC/ADB // ADB.

Lusa