Explosions at one of Britain’s largest oil depots jolted an area north of London early on Sunday, hurling balls of fire skyward, shattering windows and blanketing nearby houses with smoke.
Police said the blasts appeared to be accidental. Thirty-six people were injured, four seriously, authorities said. Explosions were expected to continue for several hours.
”The fire is contained,” said Frank Whiteley, chief constable of Hertfordshire police. ”Yes, it’s big and it’s going to burn for some time, but it is under control.”
Emergency workers wearing masks cordoned off the area around the Buncefield Oil Terminal, near the town of Hemel Hempstead. Authorities evacuated residents as the plume moved slowly eastward.
Whiteley cautioned that the cloud contained irritants that could cause coughs and nausea. People in the path of the smoke should stay indoors, he said.
The Hertfordshire fire brigade said it had scrambled at least 12 crews to the oil terminal.
Hertforshire police said in a statement there was nothing to indicate the blasts were caused by anything other than an accident, although the al-Qaeda terror network and other terrorist groups have threatened to target fuel deposits.
Some local residents had reported hearing an aircraft flying low overhead shortly before the first explosion at about 6am local time. But the police statement there was ”nothing to suggest a plane was involved”.
Nearby Luton airport remained open and flights were operating normally.
Residents in Hemel Hempstead reported a loud boom and some felt their houses shake. The blast was so large it was felt throughout a large part of London and the surrounding region.
The Ramada hotel in Hemel Hempstead — about 3km from the oil terminal — was evacuated after windows were shattered by the blast. Two guests received minor injuries from broken glass and were treated at the hotel, said Calum Russell, marketing director for Jarvis Hotels. All 187 guests had since returned to their rooms, Russell said.
Police said the M10 highway was completely closed and sections of the M1, a major route into London, were also shut.
Total confirms blasts
The British unit of French oil group Total confirmed a catastrophic series of explosions at the depot that it runs with United States oil company Texaco.
”We can confirm reports of an explosion near the terminal in Hertfordshire,” Total United Kingdom spokesperson Ian Hutchison told BBC television. ”Firm details of the incident are not yet known. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of all those affected by the situation.”
He said the depot is a joint venture between Total UK and Texaco, situated in a complex at Hemel Hempstead that also includes British Petroleum, Shell Oil and the British Pipeline Agency.
Total said it has been able to contact both its employees at the site on Sunday morning.
”We’ve been able to contact them and both are safe … We have no information about other people at the terminal,” Hutchison said.
‘House shook violently’
”There was a loud boom and the house shook violently,” said Duncan Milligan, of Hemel Hempstead, who said the blast woke him up. ”I am about three miles [almost 5km] from where the explosion took place, but I can see flames high in the sky and smoke billowing everywhere.
”There is clearly a building on fire near the motorway and police and emergency services are everywhere.”
Local resident Graeme North reported a ”great column of smoke” at the oil deport and said the blast damaged several houses nearby.
”The garage door was blown open,” he told Sky. ”The blast wave blew bath panels off.”
Local resident Richard Ayers said a massive column of smoke rose almost 5km into the air and said the force of explosions had blown the roofs off houses near the oil depot.
”It is like it is doomsday,” he told the BBC. — Sapa-AP, Sapa-AFP