Four workers were killed in an explosion at an oil refinery which rocked nearby homes and generated a huge fireball seen by frightened residents.
The explosion at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke Dock in South-West Wales yesterday is believed to have occurred when two petrol tankers collided inside the refinery, killing both the drivers.
Police this morning confirmed two other workers also died in the blast but it is not known who they were or what jobs they had. Officers are in the process of breaking the news to their families before more details are released.
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said: 'I am deeply saddened by the news and send my condolences to the families and colleagues of those who have tragically lost their lives.
'Our thoughts are also with the injured. We've been in contact with Chevron and Milford Haven Port Authority and have been asked to be kept fully informed about the investigation into this tragic event. It is essential to understand how this tragedy occurred.'
Phil Horne, whose home in Milford Haven overlooks the refinery from across an estuary, said: ‘I heard an explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky. It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery.’
Milford Haven resident Owen Warrell, 27, said: ‘I was in the house and the house shook, it was like someone had slammed the door quite hard, and I went outside and saw a huge plume of smoke.
‘Within about 20 minutes the smoke had stopped. I feel sad about the loss of lives.’
Micky Evans, 50, of Pembroke Dock, said: ‘It was quite a big blast - anyone standing nearby would not have stood a chance. It is tragic that people have lost their lives.’
A spokesman for the Milford Haven Coastguard, which is based across a stretch of water from the refinery, said: ‘There was a bang and there was smoke billowing.’
The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics had dealt with casualties at the scene and the air ambulance was deployed.
A spokesman said that the heat of the flames made it difficult to immediately ascertain how many people had been injured.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service sent 10 fire engines to the giant Chevron plant. They worked alongside the refinery’s own team of fire fighters to quell the blaze.
Dyfed Powys Police were also at the scene.
Chevron spokesman Sean Comey said last night: ‘At 18.20 local time on 2 June 2011 an incident occurred at the Pembroke Refinery. Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene.
‘The fire has been extinguished. We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel.’
A spokeswoman for Irish Ferries, which runs a passenger service between Pembroke and Rosslare, said their services had not been affected.
The refinery owned by the US energy company Chevron opened in 1964 and covers an area of 550 acres alongside the Milford Haven waterway.
It employs 1,400 people and can process up to 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day, producing millions of litres of fuel.
According to the Chevron website, the Pembroke Dock refinery specialises in processing heavy, lower quality crudes for distribution throughout the UK and to overseas markets, including the United States.
It is one of the largest manufacturers in northwest Europe. In March 2011, Chevron announced an agreement to sell the refinery to the Texan oil company Valero Energy for £458 million and another £611 million for assets including Chevron’s petrol stations in the UK and Ireland.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393668/Chevron-refinery-explosion-4-workers-killed-petrol-tankers-crash.html#ixzz1OCtet6Kd
The explosion at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke Dock in South-West Wales yesterday is believed to have occurred when two petrol tankers collided inside the refinery, killing both the drivers.
Police this morning confirmed two other workers also died in the blast but it is not known who they were or what jobs they had. Officers are in the process of breaking the news to their families before more details are released.
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said: 'I am deeply saddened by the news and send my condolences to the families and colleagues of those who have tragically lost their lives.
'Our thoughts are also with the injured. We've been in contact with Chevron and Milford Haven Port Authority and have been asked to be kept fully informed about the investigation into this tragic event. It is essential to understand how this tragedy occurred.'
Phil Horne, whose home in Milford Haven overlooks the refinery from across an estuary, said: ‘I heard an explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky. It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery.’
Milford Haven resident Owen Warrell, 27, said: ‘I was in the house and the house shook, it was like someone had slammed the door quite hard, and I went outside and saw a huge plume of smoke.
‘Within about 20 minutes the smoke had stopped. I feel sad about the loss of lives.’
Micky Evans, 50, of Pembroke Dock, said: ‘It was quite a big blast - anyone standing nearby would not have stood a chance. It is tragic that people have lost their lives.’
A spokesman for the Milford Haven Coastguard, which is based across a stretch of water from the refinery, said: ‘There was a bang and there was smoke billowing.’
The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics had dealt with casualties at the scene and the air ambulance was deployed.
A spokesman said that the heat of the flames made it difficult to immediately ascertain how many people had been injured.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service sent 10 fire engines to the giant Chevron plant. They worked alongside the refinery’s own team of fire fighters to quell the blaze.
Dyfed Powys Police were also at the scene.
Chevron spokesman Sean Comey said last night: ‘At 18.20 local time on 2 June 2011 an incident occurred at the Pembroke Refinery. Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene.
‘The fire has been extinguished. We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel.’
A spokeswoman for Irish Ferries, which runs a passenger service between Pembroke and Rosslare, said their services had not been affected.
The refinery owned by the US energy company Chevron opened in 1964 and covers an area of 550 acres alongside the Milford Haven waterway.
It employs 1,400 people and can process up to 210,000 barrels of crude oil a day, producing millions of litres of fuel.
According to the Chevron website, the Pembroke Dock refinery specialises in processing heavy, lower quality crudes for distribution throughout the UK and to overseas markets, including the United States.
It is one of the largest manufacturers in northwest Europe. In March 2011, Chevron announced an agreement to sell the refinery to the Texan oil company Valero Energy for £458 million and another £611 million for assets including Chevron’s petrol stations in the UK and Ireland.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393668/Chevron-refinery-explosion-4-workers-killed-petrol-tankers-crash.html#ixzz1OCtet6Kd
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