There was a bit of a panic in Granada on Wednesday at the Alhambra Brewery owing to an escape of ammonia, resulting in four workers being treated in hospital.

The road access was also cordoned off just ten minutes after the 112 emergency number received an alert from the brewery.

Three of the four workers who were hospitalised at the Hospital General Ruiz de Alda were released in the early afternoon with the fourth being released towards the evening.

Three firemen, on the other hand, had to be treated for chemical burns, as well as a policeman from the Policia Nacional. None of these emergency service personnel required hospital treatment and were treated on the spot.

Furthermore, neighbours from the blocks next to the brewery were temporarily evacuated, just in case, although they were soon allowed back to their homes.

It all started when a siren went off in the brewery around ten in the morning and went on through the morning. Then, around midday, there was a column of what seemed like smoke, according to one witness.

Cervezas Alhambra later reported that they activated the emergency protocol at 11.30h when the breakage was detected. It took half an hour to put right during which time work continued in the brewery.

(News: Metropolitan Area, Granada, Andalucia)