Smoke heads for English Channel

THE thick plume of smoke seen rising from the flames caused by the explosions at Buncefield fuel terminal has spread across southern England and was heading towards the Channel last night.

The plume, which was earlier seen clearly on satellite pictures as a thick blob moving east, west and southwards, was being tracked by infrared technology after the sun went down.

It was thought light winds would move the smoke eastwards but winds have been so slight the cloud has continued to rise and gradually diffuse outwards.

Jeremy Plester, meteorologist at the PA Weather Centre, forecast spectacular sunsets over coming days as smoke continues to rise into the atmosphere. “The higher they rise, the more they disperse sunlight,” he said.

Michael Dukes, forecast manager at the centre, explained perfect atmospheric conditions meant the blasts at the fuel terminal could be heard 40 miles away.