PARIS: Two explosions which sparked huge fires at a petrochemical plant in southern France early on Tuesday are believed to have been the result of a “malicious act”, sources said.

Police said no-one was injured in the explosions that happened in Berre-l’Etang near Marseille-Marignane airport at 3:00 am (0100 GMT).

Two tanks full of petrol and naphtha — a flammable liquid distilled from petroleum — caught fire after the blasts and a thick cloud of smoke was visible several kilometres away.

The fire in the first tank of petrol was extinguished fairly quickly, but firefighters only managed to put out the second blaze by late morning using foam, local authorities said.

The plant is operated by chemical firm LyondellBasell, which said the fires were not toxic.

A source close to the case said investigators believed the explosions were the result of “a malicious act”.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2015

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