Ravenfire
11-12-2005, 01:29 PM
Large explosions have rocked a fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire shooting flames hundreds of feet into the sky.
Police say there are 39 casualties, with two people seriously hurt.
The first blast happened at 0603 GMT at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to junction 8 of the M1 motorway and was heard as far away as the Netherlands.
The fire, which police believe was caused by an accident, could last days with more explosions expected.
The area around the site has been evacuated, while police have advised residents living nearby to keep their windows and doors closed because of fumes.
Thick clouds of smoke are spreading to the south-east and south-west, but are not thought to be toxic.
Earlier rumours a plane was involved in the incident were unfounded, said a police spokesman.
Witnesses said another two explosions followed the first at 0626 GMT and 0627 GMT.
In total, 20 petrol tanks are involved in the fire, each said to hold three million gallons of fuel.
Hertfordshire's chief fire officer Roy Wilsher said it was the largest fire he had ever witnessed.
"I think you need to go back into the history of Milford Haven and areas like that to see this sort of fire scale," he said.
Tanker driver Paul Turner said he ran for his life after the explosion lifted him off his feet.
Police say there are 39 casualties, with two people seriously hurt.
The first blast happened at 0603 GMT at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to junction 8 of the M1 motorway and was heard as far away as the Netherlands.
The fire, which police believe was caused by an accident, could last days with more explosions expected.
The area around the site has been evacuated, while police have advised residents living nearby to keep their windows and doors closed because of fumes.
Thick clouds of smoke are spreading to the south-east and south-west, but are not thought to be toxic.
Earlier rumours a plane was involved in the incident were unfounded, said a police spokesman.
Witnesses said another two explosions followed the first at 0626 GMT and 0627 GMT.
In total, 20 petrol tanks are involved in the fire, each said to hold three million gallons of fuel.
Hertfordshire's chief fire officer Roy Wilsher said it was the largest fire he had ever witnessed.
"I think you need to go back into the history of Milford Haven and areas like that to see this sort of fire scale," he said.
Tanker driver Paul Turner said he ran for his life after the explosion lifted him off his feet.