Two people are dead and 19 injured following an explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in Sherbrooke, Quebec yesterday afternoon.
The explosion happened at Neptune Technologies and Bioressources. The blast could be heard for miles and the resulting fire lead to a thick black plume of smoke rising above the facility.
The company made health products like krill oil. Officials say they’re still investigating the cause of the explosion.
Environment Quebec said there were initial concerns about toxicity because of the plant’s acetone reserves. Acetone is flammable. But the CBC reports that local health officials downplayed the threat saying the fumes are not toxic.
Sherbrooke is about 35 miles north of Derby Line.