Massive explosions at Oil Depot north of London, England

[Brent]

UK fuel depot blasts injure dozens

Sunday, December 11, 2005; Posted: 8:21 a.m. EST (13:21 GMT)

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Thick, dark plumes of smoke billowed into the air north of London on Sunday afternoon, hours after a series of massive explosions at an oil depot injured at least 36 people.

Authorities said the blaze, fueled primarly by aviation fuel by the afternoon, was contained but that it would likely burn for hours if not days.

"All indications are, at this stage, that this was an accident," said Hertfordshire Chief Constable Frank Whiteley. "However, clearly we will keep an open mind ... until we can confirm that for certain."

Four people were seriously injured, he said, but the majority were "walking casualties" and were being treated at hospitals in the town of Hemel Hempstead, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of London.

Britain has been on edge for terrorist attacks since four suicide bombers killed 52 commuters in July on London's transport system, but the police statement appeared to rule out any attack.

It was too early, Whiteley said, to determine the cause of the explosions.

Officials at nearby Luton Airport told British television network ITN the blast did not involve an aircraft and was not on airport grounds. Hertfordshire police also said there was no plane involved.

About 20 petroleum tanks were thought to be involved in the blaze at the Buncefield Oil Depot near Hemel Hempstead, said Jane Vine, spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue.

Although firefighting units were on the scene, authorities said the fire may have to burn itself out. "It could go into days," Roy Wilsher, fire department spokesman, told reporters. He described the fire as "the largest I've seen." Authorities said the blaze was under control, however, and was not expected to spread.

The smoke -- which is highly irritating to the throat but not toxic -- was drifting slowly eastwards, Whiteley said.

Residents closest to the depot were being evacuated, she said, and nearby roads, including the M1 and M10, were closed. "What we really want is for people to keep away from the area."

Nearby residents left quickly, some throwing possessions in the backs of their cars. Whiteley said those with doors and windows damaged by the blasts should leave.

Further explosions were expected, Whiteley said, as intact tanks were threatened by the flames. However, Whiteley said those blasts should not be as large as the first ones, which involved some main tanks. About 150,000 tons of various types of fuel are stored there, authorities said.

Hemel Hempstead residents reported hearing a loud boom about 6 a.m. local time. Two other blasts followed, British television network ITN reported, at 6:26 and 6:27 a.m.

The network showed flames shooting an estimated 80 to 100 meters (up to 300 feet) in the air, along with an immense cloud of smoke blocking out the sun. Witnesses told ITN the blasts shattered windows and caused other damage at nearby homes.

As the smoke spread across Hemel Hempstead, witnesses said there was a strange taste in the air.

"It's a horrible feeling in the back of your throat," Andy Dicker told the network. "Very unpleasant."

At least one of the blasts was enough to wake residents in London.

Video from the scene showed heavy damage to buildings at the depot and nearby roads covered in debris from the blasts.

Witness Simon Heyward described to ITN seeing "what looked like fireworks shooting up into the sky." Police, he said, had cordoned off the area.

Another woman said she thought the noise was an earthquake or a plane crash at the Luton Airport. "It was that kind of intense noise," she said.

Texaco owns 40 percent of Buncefield, but does not operate the facility. The other 60 percent is owned by Total, according to Texaco-Chevron UK and U.S.-based Texaco. No American workers were at the site, a Texaco USA spokesman said. Although the terminal is the fifth-largest in Britain, Whiteley told reporters there should be no concern about a fuel shortage.

[P.K.]

This is only 10km to the NW of me so I can see and smell the smoke. The explosion this morning woke me up around 6am, and 9 hours later the smoke is still very obvious. I believe the explosion made the house shake. It looks to me from here that the fire is still burning. (Which is confirmed by looking at the news channels)

Rather obvious on this sat image:

[WindRunner]

That's a pretty big cloud already. Glad to hear they think it was an accident. I'm sure it'll still cause some problems in London, though.

Is that an updating image?

[P.K.]

It has already reached the channel. That image wont change as it is from a polar orbiter so the area changes with each pass so I found a pass over the area.

[TexasStooge]

I'm just...speechless.

[P.K.]

Have a look at the video on here then http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4517962.stm

Better not wake me up at 6:30am tomorrow as well though. They have closed all the schools round here tomorrow for some reason as well.

[P.K.]

42 hours on and it is still burning. Will be odd now when I can't see smoke out of the window......

[kevin]

Any word on when it'll be out P.K.?

[P.K.]

Hopefully tomorrow if none of the remaining tanks not on fire do catch fire. Then maybe they can reopen the schools around here.

[Gorky]

The last of the tanks were extinguished this afternoon with only a few minor fires and damping down left to do... The industrial park next door is completely wrecked though. It looks like a tornado has ripped through the place with cars mangled and buildings gutted. Apparently, 20,000 people work in the park so imagine what sort of tragedy would have happened if this had happened during daylight hours on a weekday

[TexasStooge]

The last of the tanks were extinguished this afternoon with only a few minor fires and damping down left to do... The industrial park next door is completely wrecked though. It looks like a tornado has ripped through the place with cars mangled and buildings gutted. Apparently, 20,000 people work in the park so imagine what sort of tragedy would have happened if this had happened during daylight hours on a weekday

[P.K.]

The latest BBC report says one of the other tanks has now caught fire as well but should burn itself out. Too cloudy today though to see any obvious smoke this morning.

I heard a couple of explosions last night around 9pm so maybe that was the tank recatching fire.

Edit - Thought I'd mention this registered as an earthquake measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale.
http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/recent_events/recent_events.html