Germany’s BASF firefighter dies from injuries of Ludwigshafen accident

The fire at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site northern harbour in October 2016. Source: Unverified footage from YouTube user Ulli Z

LONDON (ICIS)–A firefighter suffering injuries from BASF’s accident at its main site at Ludwigshafen in 2016 has passed away, the German chemical major said on Tuesday.

Four firefighters from BASF fire department and one sailor of a tanker have now died as a consequence of the accident occurred on 17 October 2016.

“I am deeply saddened that we lost our colleague. Until the very end, we were hoping that he would overcome his injuries. We mourn his death together with his family and friends,” said Kurt Bock, BASF’s CEO.

The company’s flagship site of Ludwigshafen suffered an explosion at the North Harbor – the site lies beside the River Rhine in south west Germany – while working on a pipeline.

The explosion resulted in fires and brought havoc to the site’s logistics for weeks.

“The course of events is still being investigated by the public prosecutor’s office of Frankenthal [Germany],” said BASF on Tuesday.