A maintenance worker has died and another is in critical condition after being overcome by carbon monoxide while working in a sewage tank at Tarragona’s Central Market on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on the third level of the underground car park, where the two were carrying out maintenance on a drainage chamber that collects wastewater from the entire building.
Emergency services dispatched seven units to the scene. Firefighters from the Bombers de la Generalitat found both workers unconscious and immediately began rescue operations. One was extracted and resuscitation attempts began outside, while a second team entered to retrieve the other. A toxic gas reading detected 60 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide in the chamber, with elevated levels confirmed across all three subterranean levels.
"We understand that the incident was caused by intoxication due to this gas,"
said Xavier Ferrer, the territorial commander of the fire service in Tarragona and the Terres de l'Ebre region.
The workers were employed by a maintenance company and had been called to clear a blockage in the building’s sewage pumping system. Decomposing waste produces both carbon monoxide and methane, which the fire service believes led to the fatal exposure.
Both the car park and market building were evacuated as a precaution. A security guard was briefly unaccounted for, but was later found unharmed. Ventilation operations began immediately to reduce gas concentration, and the maintenance company resumed unblocking work by 11 p.m. to help disperse the remaining gas.
Market reopens, car park remains closed
The Central Market reopened for business on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. However, the underground car park remains closed to the public as the Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police, conduct their investigation into the incident.
Emergency crews estimated the building could be safely reopened within one or two hours of completing ventilation. The market is located on Plaça Corsini, where traffic was temporarily restricted on Carrer Colom and the pedestrian crossing during the emergency response.
Reported by Regió 7, Tarragona Ràdio, Infocamp, Tarragona21, 3Cat, Tarragona Digital, Canal Reus, cronicaglobal.cat, reusdigital.cat.
