VIDEO. The impressive images of the fire in a lithium factory in Aveyron: confined population, blocked road…

Un épais panache de fumée noire se dégage du bâtiment en feu. Capture d'écran – Vidéo Facebook Adeva

Since this Saturday, February 17, firefighters have been fighting on an annex of the industrial site of the New Metal Refining Company (Snam), formerly the site of the Sopave factory. located in Viviez in Aveyron.

The images are impressive and show the flames ravaging a building with an area of ​​3,000 m2. This is an annex to the industrial site of the Société Nouvelle d'Afining des Metals (Snam), specializing in the reprocessing and recycling of lithium batteries, as reported by Center Presse.

Until 2018, the site hosted the Sopave factory which, formerly, manufactured plastic bags for local authorities and took care of the reprocessing of agricultural plastic sheeting . The company has been closed since 2018.

Inhabitants confined within a radius of 500 m

A confinement of populations within a radius of 500 m was decided as a security measure. Residents are invited not to go out and not to open windows to avoid being impacted by the fumes. Firefighter teams specializing in chemical risks were engaged on site.

RD 5 closed to traffic

Moreover, as announced by the Aveyron prefecture, via press release this Saturday evening, "a road diversion has been put in place to allow circumvention of the site. RD 5 is closed to traffic.

Around sixty firefighters fight against the flames

The firefighters of the Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis) are massively mobilized, around sixty firefighters, as well as the police and the DREAL services ( Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing).

The fire broke out in an area where the controversial project for the future Kéréa factory, a household waste treatment unit, is to come to fruition.

The fire set but not yet contained

According to the firefighters, the fire would be set for this Sunday, February 18, but it is not yet contained. The work of the firefighters continues this Sunday morning.

(PRESS CENTER)