Bashy
11-12-2005, 10:59 AM
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A picture sent to Sky News by a viewer
Explosion At Fuel Depot
Updated: 10:22, Sunday December 11, 2005
Some 36 people have been injured - four of them seriously - in a huge explosion at a fuel depot. The blast was so powerful it rocked houses up to 40 miles away.
"Tongues of flames" are soaring hundreds of feet into the sky and an acrid cloud of smoke is stertching for miles from the depot.
The Army is on standby and people anywhere near the area of the plume of smoke are being warned to stay indoors and close all windows and doors.
The blast happened near Hemel Hempstead, around 25 miles north of London, just after 6am. Police have said they expect more blasts at the site this morning.
There have been reports that up to eight people were killed in the explosion - but so far all but two people have been accounted for.
Houses near the Buncefield fuel depot, which stores petrol and kerosene, have been evacuated and emergency services are handing out breathing masks.
The cloud of acrid smoke is moving south and beginning to obscure main roads, including the M40, according to reports.
Officials have warned that people near the smoke should stay indoors.
Experts have said that in this type of situation fire crews can only cut off the fuel supply and wait for the fire to burn out. In the meantime, there is "every chance of another explosion".
Police have said the cause of the explosion is not yet known but no third party - a plane or a terrorist - was involved.
The explosion happened at the depot near junction 8 of the M1. It was so powerful it was felt up to 40 miles away.
Map of the area
Thousands of viewers are contacting Sky News with reports it shook houses many miles away.
Witnesses have said that buildings have been brought down and the roofs of houses were lifted by the force.
One witness said he was near the site when the blast happened and he saw a building "open up like a doll's house".
Sky Reporter Enda Brady is at the scene. He said there has been a lot of structural damage to surrounding buildings.
"As for residential buildings, it would appear that most people have got away with just blown out windows and cracks," he said.
Brady said he can see a "colossal column of thick black acrid smoke". He added: "People are very, very shocked. Many are walking around in their bed clothes."
The windows were blown out at the Ramada hotel in Hemel Hempstead, which was evacuated after reports of injuries.
Sky News Correspondent Geoff Meade heard the blast at his home.
He immediately called Sky Centre in west London, which was also shook by the explosion, and described "burning tongues" of flames in the sky.
The first blast happened at about 6.03am - it was followed by several smaller explosions.
Meade, a seasoned war reporter, said: "This fire is extremely intense. It is a bright orange glow on the horizon."
Sky News producer Anwar Tambe heard the blast from his home in Luton and later became stuck in traffic on the M1.
He said blasts were "going off regularly" and debris has blown onto the motorway.
:: An emergency hotline is being set up to help anyone concerned about friends or relatives. The number is 0800 096 0095.
A picture sent to Sky News by a viewer
Explosion At Fuel Depot
Updated: 10:22, Sunday December 11, 2005
Some 36 people have been injured - four of them seriously - in a huge explosion at a fuel depot. The blast was so powerful it rocked houses up to 40 miles away.
"Tongues of flames" are soaring hundreds of feet into the sky and an acrid cloud of smoke is stertching for miles from the depot.
The Army is on standby and people anywhere near the area of the plume of smoke are being warned to stay indoors and close all windows and doors.
The blast happened near Hemel Hempstead, around 25 miles north of London, just after 6am. Police have said they expect more blasts at the site this morning.
There have been reports that up to eight people were killed in the explosion - but so far all but two people have been accounted for.
Houses near the Buncefield fuel depot, which stores petrol and kerosene, have been evacuated and emergency services are handing out breathing masks.
The cloud of acrid smoke is moving south and beginning to obscure main roads, including the M40, according to reports.
Officials have warned that people near the smoke should stay indoors.
Experts have said that in this type of situation fire crews can only cut off the fuel supply and wait for the fire to burn out. In the meantime, there is "every chance of another explosion".
Police have said the cause of the explosion is not yet known but no third party - a plane or a terrorist - was involved.
The explosion happened at the depot near junction 8 of the M1. It was so powerful it was felt up to 40 miles away.
Map of the area
Thousands of viewers are contacting Sky News with reports it shook houses many miles away.
Witnesses have said that buildings have been brought down and the roofs of houses were lifted by the force.
One witness said he was near the site when the blast happened and he saw a building "open up like a doll's house".
Sky Reporter Enda Brady is at the scene. He said there has been a lot of structural damage to surrounding buildings.
"As for residential buildings, it would appear that most people have got away with just blown out windows and cracks," he said.
Brady said he can see a "colossal column of thick black acrid smoke". He added: "People are very, very shocked. Many are walking around in their bed clothes."
The windows were blown out at the Ramada hotel in Hemel Hempstead, which was evacuated after reports of injuries.
Sky News Correspondent Geoff Meade heard the blast at his home.
He immediately called Sky Centre in west London, which was also shook by the explosion, and described "burning tongues" of flames in the sky.
The first blast happened at about 6.03am - it was followed by several smaller explosions.
Meade, a seasoned war reporter, said: "This fire is extremely intense. It is a bright orange glow on the horizon."
Sky News producer Anwar Tambe heard the blast from his home in Luton and later became stuck in traffic on the M1.
He said blasts were "going off regularly" and debris has blown onto the motorway.
:: An emergency hotline is being set up to help anyone concerned about friends or relatives. The number is 0800 096 0095.