Rescuers work overnight at factory blast site

Desperate rescue workers were continuing their efforts to find survivors trapped under layers of rubble after a huge explosion ripped through a plastics factory.

Four people have already been confirmed dead and firefighters believe more people are trapped in the debris.

The clock has been ticking for rescuers since an explosion brought the four-storey Stockline Plastics building in Glasgow crashing down yesterday at noon.

The building in Grovepark Street, off Maryhill Road, collapsed in seconds following the blast and rescue workers have been working furiously since to find survivors.

Around 40 people have been confirmed as injured, seven of those were pulled from the building. Four people who were pulled from the wreckage died, according to police.

One young woman was pulled from the rubble at around 9pm after a rescue that took six-and-a-half hours.

Strathclyde Firemaster Brian Sweeney said she had been found in “distressing circumstances” but was expected to make a full recovery.

There was still no indication how many people may be trapped.

Three of the victims died at the scene, while a woman died in the city’s Western Infirmary.

Around 50 people were employed in the building and a group of 10 were understood to have been at a meeting in one of the upper floors when the tragedy struck.

Through the night firefighters, members from the International Rescue Corps, sniffer dogs and a local mountain rescue team delicately sifted through the rubble brick-by-brick as paramedics waited tentatively in a nearby shopping centre car park which had been established as a triage area.

Shortly before 5am rubble sensors picked up what they thought could be faint knocking noises.

However, they said it may just have been background noise.

One member of the International Rescue Corps said “this gives us fresh hope”.

Every so often the rescuers would halt their efforts as the floodlights and their noisy generators would be turned off in an effort to hear anyone who may be trapped.

After periods of around 10 minutes the search, with thermal imaging cameras and heat-seeking equipment, would recommence.

Three cars, one completely covered in brick and dust, were removed one by one as the site was slowly being cleared.

But the message from the firefighters today, many of whom were exhausted, was that this is still being considered as a rescue operation and not yet a recovery operation for bodies.

The cause of the blast was still being investigated although a number of those who had escaped suggested four ovens in the factory, two electric and two gas, may have exploded.

The Queen said she was “shocked” to learn of the tragedy which has been likened to the scene of an earthquake.

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling and First Minister Jack McConnell sent their sympathies to the local community, while the Archbishop of Glasgow confirmed prayers would be offered for those involved.

Dr Willie Tullet, clinical director for North Glasgow Hospitals, said the incident was the worst in the city since the Ibrox disaster which claimed the lives of 66 soccer fans on January 2, 1971.

“The staff are coping remarkably well, they’ve really rallied, the camaraderie is great,” he said. “They are working under very difficult circumstances.

“We are very fortunate a fire did not ensue or the outcome could have been much more catastrophic.

“This is the most major thing that has happened to Glasgow since Ibrox.”

Dr Tullet added: “We will remain on stand-by with every expectation we will receive more patients over the coming hours.”

He said he expected hospitals to be on stand-by for another 24 hours or possibly longer.

“You can remember from earthquakes people have been pulled out days afterwards,” he added.

Concerned members of the public were being asked to contact the pre-recorded Strathclyde Emergencies Information Helpline on 0870 0501 999 or the casualty bureau on 0870 900 9586.