Yule operations unaffected by Germany blast

Specialist chemicals maker Yule Catto said its operations had been unaffected by a large explosion at an industrial park in Marl, Germany.

Latest reports have confirmed one person was killed and another injured following the blast in the country's Ruhr Valley industrial heartland.

"A column of smoke rose 100 metres high in the wake of the explosion, but initial checks by environmental authorities don't indicate there's any danger to health," police said in a statement.

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The explosion happened at a facility run by Evonik Industries AG, which serves the automotive, plastics, pharmaceutical, and other industries.

The industrial park is home to around 30 companies, including Yule Catto.

"No Yule Catto staff or operations were either involved in or affected by the accident or its consequences, and production continued normally in all three of the group's plants on the Marl site both on Saturday 31st March when the incident occurred and over the remainder of the weekend," the firm said.

"The authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the incident, but based on the information available at this time, we do not anticipate any impact to normal production at any of our plants on the Marl Site," it added.

"Our thoughts are with those who were injured and their families."