A powerful blast shook the western German city of Leverkeusen on Tuesday morning, leaving several people injured. The police asked the residents to stay inside their homes and close their doors and windows.

Five people are missing and several have been injured, at least two severely, after an explosion shook the industrial park in Leverkeusen, where the German Bayer pharmaceutical company is located, around 9.40 am.

The injured people are employees of the Currenta company which operates the park, according to the spokesperson of the company.

JUST IN – Severe explosion at “Bayer” chemical plant in Leverkusen, Germany. A huge column of smoke rises. Population warned to immediately close windows and doors.pic.twitter.com/sFrR0v0uDG

— Disclose.tv ? (@disclosetv) July 27, 2021

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, according to the operators at the site.

An explosion at a chemical park shook the German city of Leverkusen, sending a large black cloud rising into the air.

Operators of the Chempark site in Leverkusen said the cause of the explosion was unclear.

More to follow: https://t.co/8g7t94bB9u pic.twitter.com/3KIj4XZFzy

— DW News (@dwnews) July 27, 2021

A poisonous cloud came over the city, prompting the authorities to sound extreme danger and warn the residents to remain inside, close their doors and windows, and shut off the air conditioning.

Apart from the residents of Leverkeusen, people living in the nearby areas of Wermelskirchen, Burscheid, Leichlingen, and Solingen also received warnings, according to FAZ.

The fire station in the nearby city of Koeln said on Twitter that for now, the residents of Koeln are not in danger. “The latest measurements have shown this, but we will continue monitoring. More information to follow,” the station wrote.

Aktuell keine Gefährdung für das Kölner Stadtgebiet:
Luftmessungen von Umweltschutzeinheiten der @Feuerwehr_Koeln im Kölner Norden haben ergeben, dass derzeit keine Gefahr für die Kölner Bevölkerung besteht. Die Messungen werden fortgesetzt. Weitere Informationen folgen.

— Feuerwehr Köln (@Feuerwehr_Koeln) July 27, 2021

The police blocked off a wide radius of streets surrounding the explosion site. Several roads have also been closed, with the police urging the residents to avoid the area around the explosion and clear the roads so that emergency services can pass.

This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.