A major fire broke out at a prominent research accelerator facility in Darmstadt, Germany, early Thursday morning. Firefighters promptly arrived on the scene and have managed to control the blaze, though extinguishing efforts are anticipated to extend into the evening, police informed Reuters.
The fire caused concerns over potential hazardous material release, prompting authorities to issue warnings to residents to keep windows and doors shut. The incident occurred in the particle accelerator section of the GSI Helmhotz Centre, though the source of the fire remains unknown, according to officials.
No injuries have been reported, but investigations are continuing to determine how the fire started. The facility is known for its work with heavy ion acceleration, vital for various research applications. The affected center has not been reachable for further comments.
(With inputs from agencies.)