Car crashes into hydrogen tank on Umicore site, woman is seriously injured in explosion

An explosion occurred in one of the departments at the metal company Umicore in Sint-Jozef-Olen (Olen) on Wednesday evening. That was followed by a short fire. One person suffered serious injuries.

The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at 10 p.m. A woman drove her car into a tank installation on the Umicore sites in Watertorenstraat. It was filled with hydrogen, which exploded due to the collision. This was accompanied by a flash of flame, after which a fire broke out.

The fire brigade from the Kempen emergency zone quickly brought the fire under control. The explosion in the company was accompanied by a loud bang, which also startled the neighborhood. Although there is no longer any danger, the municipality of Olen calls on all local residents to keep the area clear, because the emergency services are still present in large numbers.

The driver who crashed into the tank suffered serious injuries. She was taken to hospital in a serious condition and under police escort. The police and the company are now investigating where the car came from. It cannot be ruled out that the woman entered the property from outside with her car and crashed into the tank.

Mayor Seppe Bouquillon (CD&V) adds that there is no longer a fire in the affected tank. The explosion and fire could be seen far into the area.