A MAN was killed by a flying metal plate that is believed to have travelled one-and-a-half miles through the air from a huge chemical plant explosion in Spain.

Local authorities believe Sergio Millan, 59, died after a large metal plate crashed into his apartment building after the massive industrial explosion in North-Eastern Spain.

The projectile was propelled into the third floor of the apartment block 1.5 miles away by the explosion, collapsing its floor and killing Millan as he sat in the apartment below.

The "almost unbelievable," death is still under investigation. He was the only person in the apartment at the time as his wife was out.

Catalan police posted a photo of the metal plate on Twitter, saying it measured 122cm by 165cm and was three centimetres thick.

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He is the third person to have died as a result of the explosion in Tarragona on Tuesday which also killed a worker at the plant and injured eight others.

The body of one of the other victims is still to be recovered as the area is too dangerous to retrieve his body and identify him.

It is now believed that the explosion started in a 20-ton reactor tank of ethylene oxide, a highly flammable industrial gas.

Officials have accused the owners, IQOXE, of not following information protocols.

Locals described "terrifying fear" as flames ripped through the industrial area during the 6.blast near Barcelona as emergency crews descended on the area last night.

Local emergency services declared a "chemical accident" as footage showed flames reaching hundreds of feet into the sky above the town.

The city is home to a 3,000 acre "chemical hub", ChemMed, which is the biggest petrochemical industrial estate in Southern Europe.

Around 20 emergency vehicles were at the site and fought the fire through the night, gradually bringing it under control.

The plant is owned by IQOXE and Grupo Industrial SA, who are opening an independent investigation into the incident.

CEO Jose Luis Morlanes told reporters: "We deeply regret the loss of one of our co-workers and the suffering of those who are injured."

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Catalan president Quim Torra said late last night: “I would like to send my condolences to the family of the person who died as a result of this accident.

“We would also like to send a message of tranquility to the population because no toxic agent has been detected in the air.”

Tarragona Town Hall has announced two days of mourning.

Residents posted videos showing the aftermath of the blast with flames and black smoke billowing into the skies above.

Some local residents told local Tarragona Radio that the blast could be heard from miles away.

Tarragona is located 71 miles southwest of Barcelona, the regional capital of Spain's Catalonia region.

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