Thousands of Tunisians rallied in the southern city of Gabes on Wednesday, demanding the closure of an ageing chemical plant accused of poisoning their air, water, and bodies.
As protesters approached the sprawling Tunisian Chemical Group complex, police fired volleys of tear gas, forcing hundreds to scatter.
Some demonstrators fainted, while others stayed behind, shouting defiantly through the haze.
The protest followed weeks of rising anger after dozens of residents were hospitalised with symptoms blamed on toxic emissions and waste from the phosphate-processing facility.
Local residents say pollution from the plant has devastated marine life, polluted beaches, and caused respiratory illnesses and cancer.
“This has to stop. My three children and I have asthma. My husband and mother died from cancer because of this plant,” said Lamia Ben Mohamed, 52, her voice breaking with exhaustion.
Chanting “We want to breathe,” the crowd — initially 2,000 strong but swelling to several thousand — surged through the city, waving Tunisian flags and banners reading “Gabes without oxygen” and “The complex is killing us under the state’s watch.”
The rally was organised by the Stop Pollution collective, which has long fought for the plant’s shutdown, accusing authorities of negligence and broken promises.
Although the government pledged in 2017 to phase out operations, officials recently announced plans to increase production instead.
Regional union leader Slah Ben Hamed said the latest wave of poisonings stemmed from “outdated equipment” and recurring “gas leaks.”
Experts warn that cleaning up the site — operating since 1972 — may now be impossible.
“This complex has brought us nothing but death,” said cardiologist Marwa Salah, among many demanding a future “without pollution, without fear, and with air we can finally breathe.”