TEN people have been hurt after a carbon monoxide leak in the hold of a cargo ship docked in Barcelona port.
One person is in a critical condition and a second is seriously injured after the gas leaked from an unknown source aboard the Ocean Euphrosine.
The disturbing incident took place in the early hours of last Saturday morning while workers were unloading vegetable oils at the port’s flammable goods quay.
Four others with less serious injuries were taken to Moises Broggi hospital in Sant Joan Despi.
Four people with minor symptoms were treated and discharged at the scene, while nine others were unaffected.
The Guardia Civil and Maritime Authority have launched an investigation to determine the case of the poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas that can be particularly dangerous because it is colourless and odorless, meaning people can be exposed without realising it.
It is produced when fuels do not burn completely and can prevent the blood from carrying enough oxygen around the body.
Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, weakness, confusion and shortness of breath.
More serious exposure can lead to chest pain, loss of consciousness, seizures, brain damage and, in severe cases, death.
The severity of poisoning depends on the concentration of gas and how long someone is exposed to it.
The port of Barcelona handled a record-breaking 36.3 million tonnes of traffic in the first six months of 2026 – a 3.5 per cent increase on the same period last year.
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