El Complex Piscines de Tàrrega will reopen today Monday after the chemical accident registered on Friday in these sports facilities. The return to activity will be partial and will allow the use of the pool, the jacuzzi, the fitness room and the guided activities, while the sauna and the Turkish bath will remain out of service.
Removal of the chemical mixture and end of the security perimeter
The mayor of Tàrrega, Rosa Maria Perelló, explained that yesterday personnel from the Bombers de Tarragona worked at the facility with special engines to remove the mixture of chlorine and hydrochloric acid generated by the incident. In total, 3,000 liters of substance mixed with water were collected, distributed in three tanks.
The tasks lasted for about three hours. Towards 6:00 p.m. yesterday, the security perimeter was lifted in the entire sports area, which allowed preparing for the reopening of the different municipal spaces.
Also reopen the sports center and the football fields
In addition to the swimming pool complex, today will also reopen the sports center and the soccer fields. The review of the condition of the facilities has reduced the initial concern about the extent of the accident.
The first inspections carried out on Saturday morning suggested possible serious material damage to the machinery. However, checks made yesterday concluded that the facilities could operate normally, pending a more detailed technical evaluation.
An expert will evaluate the damages after the toxic cloud
An appraiser will now have to appraise and quantify the damages derived from the incident. The accident occurred when in a muriatic acid deposit chlorine was mixed by mistake, which triggered a chemical reaction and originated a toxic cloud inside the enclosure.
Nine people were injured, although all of them have already been discharged. In addition, about 60 people had to be evacuated from the complex during Friday's emergency. With the removal of the substance and the deactivation of the security perimeter, sports activity recovers part of its normality in the area starting today.