Following a significant fire at a recycling yard in Hatten, located in the Oldenburg district, the nearby A28 highway is set to reopen after delays caused by the need to secure a damaged mobile phone mast. A police spokesperson indicated that workers are currently dismantling the mast to prevent any potential collapse onto the roadway, a process that has required the deployment of an additional crane.

The fire, which broke out on Friday evening, engulfed hundreds of cars and numerous stacks of tires on the extensive recycling yard premises. The blaze also resulted in damage to a mobile phone mast, the stability of which could not be conclusively determined by an expert assessment. The smoke from the fire was visible as far away as Bremen, highlighting the scale of the incident.

Despite the extensive damage, estimated to be in the millions, there were no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with authorities yet to determine what sparked the massive blaze. The incident has drawn attention to the potential hazards associated with recycling facilities, especially those storing large quantities of flammable materials.

The closure of the A28 highway has caused significant disruption, with the reopening initially expected in the morning but now delayed until at least midday. The situation underscores the challenges emergency services and infrastructure teams face in responding to and recovering from large-scale industrial incidents. The community and local businesses are eagerly awaiting the full reopening of the highway to resume normal operations.