Spanish authorities have ordered 160,000 people near Barcelona not to go outside after a factory fire released a toxic chlorine cloud into the air. The blaze broke out at around 2.30am (local time) in a chemical storage plant in the beachfront town of Vilanova i la Geltru, about 25 miles south of the Catalan capital.

The site was being used to store 70 tons of chlorine for swimming pool use. The lockdown led to the cancellation of the Vida BBQ, a warm-up for the popular Vida Festival, which is due to take place in the town in July and is set to feature acts including Supergrass and the Lemon Twigs. Catalan indie band Mishima had been scheduled to perform at the pre-festival event.

Organisers said in a statement: “We regret to have to inform you that we have been forced to cancel Vida BBQ which was due to take place today, because of an emergency notification issued by Civil Protection.

According to this notification, a toxic cloud has been detected, which represents a risk for the health of the population. Civil Protection is recommending the total confinement of the population.

Faced with this situation,n our responsibility and commitment to the health and wellbeing of people who were due to attend this event obliges us to take this difficult decision.”

A receptionist at a three-star hotel in Vilanova i la Geltru said at midday local time: “All our guests are having to stay inside because no-one can go out.

“It’s a lovely day here so people would normally be on the beach or strolling along the seafront. We don’t know how long the lockdown is going to last but obviously we hope it will be soon.

Vilanova i la Geltru is the sort of area where you get British and Irish tourists even though they’re not the top nationalities in terms of visitors.”

Civil Protection officials issued a chemical alert in the early hours, telling people to shut windows and doors and remain indoors. In a message on X, they said: “If you are in the affected area, don’t leave your house or your place of work.

“An alert will be sent to mobile phones to inform people about the lockdown.” They also urged people: “Don’t travel to the affected areas.”

Danger zones include the towns of Villanova i la Geltru, Cubelles, Les Roquetes de Sant Pere de Ribes, Cunit and Calafell, covering parts of the Barcelona and Tarragona provinces. Some roads have been closed, and certain trains are not stopping between Sitges and Sant Vicenc de Calders.

Firefighters tackling the blaze confirmed shortly before midday: “The fire in Vilanova i la Geltru has been stabilised. We have 24 crews on site. We’re continuing to work on putting out the blaze.”

Jorge Vinuales, the owner of the firm where the fire broke out, said the cause had not yet been determined but suggested it may have started when a lithium battery caught fire.

Catalan president Salvador Illa has said the fire is “under control” but stressed the lockdown will not be lifted until there is “no risk to the population.”

There have been no reports of hospitalisations, although one person reportedly suffered a panic attack. Civil Protection officials said they do not currently expect the lockdown to be extended. Those needing to leave their homes or hotels for emergency medical reasons are being advised to wear FFP2 face masks.

Civil Protection chiefs announced around 12.30pm local time today they had lifted the full lockdown order in most of the affected areas.

They said it was being maintained in a 500-metre radius around the affected factory and travel limitations were still in place for “vulnerable people” in three of the municipalities where locals and holidaymakers had been ordered not to leave their homes, hotels or places of work.