16 police officers were injured when a dangerous liquid spilled on a Mannheim factory site on Tuesday afternoon.

You have respiratory irritation, said a police spokesman in the evening.

Two of them would be examined in the hospital, the others went to the doctor.

The liquid could develop toxic and irritating vapors, the emergency services had previously announced.

At first, a column of smoke about 150 meters high could be seen above the Mannheim harbor.

This has now receded in the course of the extensive extinguishing work.

According to the city, residents in a radius of 1,300 meters around the Mühlauhafen site should close windows and doors and not leave their houses.

There is a strong odor nuisance.

There was initially no precise information about the substance that escaped.