NEWS: Explosion Heard Near Fuel Depot in Hemel Hempstead, England

This is breaking news and very little info is available. Three explosions have been heard near a fuel depot off Junction 8 of the M1, near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The explosions happened at 0605 GMT.

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This is breaking news and I have very little to add at this time.

I doubt it is terrorism, but you never know, they may have got up early today.

[edit on 11/12/05 by stumason]

[edit on 11/12/05 by stumason]

[edit on 11-12-2005 by Nerdling]

[edit on 14-12-2005 by Nerdling]

A bit more info on SKY here:

www.sky.com...

I hope it's not a terrorist attack...

www.sky.com...

More info here.

It appears to be a fuel plant.

Is it to late to be the first to suppose it was terrorists, or that they would be blamed?

This was a huge explosion! I was just getting ready to go to sleep and then there was a very distinct rumbling, followed by a boom. It sounded like it was just down the street, and Milton Keynes is about 25-30 miles away, so it was quite a bang. Enough to blow out windows at nearby residential estates, certainly.

Eyewitnesses are now reporting buildings are collapsing.

Was quite funny think some ppl on BTs thought i was having a laugh when i posted this at 6.08 lol

BTS First Report Before Anything was Known

[edit on 11-12-2005 by perspicientia]

This link says that eyewitnesses report hearing a loud roar overhead before the explosion and others report having actually seen a plane crash.

news.bbc.co.uk...

[edit on 2005/12/11 by GradyPhilpott]

Police have informed the BBC that there was no reason to believe that there was an aircraft involved. (just reported).

Each tank contains three million gallons of fuel - this will be a major environmental and economic disaster for the UK. This will have a major effect on the aiports of Southern England.

Not sure about the plane crash theory but I was almost shaken out of bed by the shockwave. I live about 2 miles, as the crow flies, from the depot.

I took a walk up into the industrial area to within 1 mile from the depot from where I could get a better view, as it's slightly uphill from the depot.
Buildings at that distance have sustained damage with paneling blown off and windows blown in. It was also apparent that the fires were raging throughout the depot grounds.
On a brighter note, two of my old security officers who work in a building the other side of the depot perimeter fence are ok. A bit bruised as the control fell about them but managed to get out to a safe area.

Total UK have just confirmed that both of their employees are safe.

Hopefully no one was hurt, but some thing tells me to fill up the tank before the price of gas goes up.

Too true Hal. I worked in a building that backs onto the depot and there is constant tanker traffic in and out of there 24x7x365. It's really gonna hit supplies I think in this part of the country.

The BBC had an eye witness (someone who lived close by) who said that the fire was on the aviation side of the plant which is apparently separate from the petrol side.

BBC have just floated a theory that it was caused by a vapour problem - with a spark igniting the vapour.

If this situation shuts the M1, that won't help either, this gives an indication of how close this facility is to the motorway ...

[Edit: grammar, grrr]

[edit on 11-12-2005 by 0951]

The explosion was felt here in Canterbury, Kent...

it was about 6am the house shook

Three explosions?

Is it an accident or do you have a terror attack out there?

That sounds horrible!


[edit on 11-12-2005 by Riwka]

There is a report of the explosion being heard and seen in Newcastle Upon Tyne , which is over 200 miles away (by my reckoning!). I live near Newcastle but didn't hear it (asleep!). Comments received by the BBC

The smoke is spreading to High Wycombe / Henley on Thames. The BBC is reporting that the area around the plant is being evacuated and that there are reports of cars on fire in the streets around the plant.

It'll be individual storage tanks exploding.
The BBC are verbally reporting that five storage tanks have now gone.

Very little info here in the U.S. on TV, even on CNN International (which I get but probably most Americans don't) ... any more word on the plane crash reports?

Press conference right now:

All indications are it is an accident. High no's of police and fire in attendance, more explosions are expected throughout the morning . 36 casualties so far, four in serious condition, no deaths reported.

smoke is moving slowly eastwards - potentially irritant, advice is to stay out of smoke.

Police are stressing not to panic buy petrol.

Plant is fifth biggest in the country - contigency plans in operation.

Police has said that there is nothing at present to indicate that this is nothing other than an accident.

The fire service are talking now and expect that a few other tanks will explode. There was a major factory fire caused by the explosion. They're rushing foam stocks in from both other fire services and the manufacturers.

Probably one of the biggest fires in UK history.

Fire could last for days.

The fire is so large there is no chance to put *water curtains* in place.