An electrical failure led the factory to discharge industrial water laden with nitrogen into the river. Located near Saint-Nazaire, the place is classified Seveso high threshold.
The prefecture has requested water samples from the Loire and the Yara discharges. The company Yara, a Norwegian fertilizer manufacturer, had already been noted for sulfuric acid leaks, recalls France Bleu Loire Océan. The site has effectively been at a standstill since the announcement of the factory's closure last fall.