PARIS_A French municipal official says five people have been injured in an accident at a Total SA petrochemicals plant in the northern town Gonfreville-l'Orcher not far from the English Channel.

Stephane Joulain of the mayor's office says two were gravely hurt and three have suffered minor injuries in the accident.

A vat that usually contains sulfuric acid and the scaffolding on which the workers were standing fell during a maintenance Tuesday.

Joulain says the tank does not represent a threat to the environment or the surrounding population.

Total SA could not be reached for comment.

Last month, two people died and six were injured following an accident at another Total petrochemicals factory in eastern France.