Date: October 9, 2023
Location: Bucy-le-Long, Aisne (France)
Address: Rte de Soissons, 02880
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Sugar Dust
Industry: Sugar Production (Food Processing)
Equipment: Beet Dehydrator
Company: Tereos Sucre France Bucy
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: Two Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Tereos is a major agri-food cooperative group headquartered in France. It is involved in the production of various sugar products, including granulated sugar, liquid sugar, and specialty sugars used in food and beverage production.
Incident Description:
On October 9, 2023, France Bleu reported an explosion and fire at a sugar facility in Bucy-le-Long, France.
The explosion occurred in a beet fibre dehydration oven, resulting in minor injuries to two individuals. It also destroyed the roof of a 1,500-square-metre building, leading to a subsequent fire outbreak that was swiftly extinguished by the Aisne fire brigade.
Over 80 employees were safely evacuated from the vicinity, and a secure perimeter was established around the affected structure. Due to the presence of asbestos fibres in the fibre cement of the destroyed roof, measures were implemented to dampen dust dispersion to the ground through water spraying. A system was also created to capture and treat the potentially fibre-laden water.
Sources:
France Bleu
