Orsero Group-owned Argentinean export giant Moño Azul has reportedly lost 25-30 per cent of its coldstorage capacity in the upper valley of the Río Negro region after a fire broke out at the company’s facility in the town of Villa Regina.
The blaze, which began at 2am yesterday morning, was caused by an electrical fault and took eight hours to bring under control, according to a report by Río Negro Online.
Moño Azul has lost 18 of its 30 coldstorage chambers in the town located on Highway 22 – a “terrible loss” for the coming topfruit season, the report said.
Given that the season is yet to begin, almost all the coldstores were empty when the fire struck, with only a small volume of fruit stored in some of the chambers.
Firemen prevented the fire from spreading to the packing plant and cooling chambers.
