Four dead in explosion at waste water treatment works in UK

The scene in Avomouth, Bristol, as fire crews, police and paramedics responded to a large explosion Picture: Ben Birchall/PA

Four people have died following an explosion at a waste water treatment works near Bristol in the UK.

A major incident was declared at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth, after reports of a “large explosion” on Thursday.

Among those killed were three employees of Wessex Water and one contractor, Chief Inspector Mark Runacres, from Avon and Somerset Police, said.

Speaking at a press conference at the scene, he said: “Emergency services were called at approximately 11.20am to reports of a large explosion involving one of the chemical tanks at the site off Kings Weston Lane.

“The fire service led the rescue operation but sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, we can confirm there have been four fatalities. This includes three employees of Wessex Water and one contractor.”

The scene in Avonmouth (Ben Birchall/PA)

He added that there was no ongoing public safety concerns following the explosion, which he said happened in a silo that held treated biosolids before it is recycled to land as an organic soil conditioner.

A fifth person was also hurt in the blast but their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Kieran Jenkins, who had been working nearby, said that he and a colleague had heard an explosion and seen people running from the scene.

“We were inside the warehouse, the whole warehouse was shaking and we literally stood there in shock,” he told BBC News.

“Next thing you know we looked out of the windows and all we could see was people running.

“We don’t know what happened. It was a bit of a shock really.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “our hearts go out” to the victims and their families.

“Deeply saddened to learn that four people have lost their lives in the water works explosion in Avonmouth,” he said on Twitter.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

“Thank you to the emergency services who attended the scene.”

(PA Graphics)

Wessex Water chief executive Colin Skellett said the company were “absolutely devastated” by the incident, and said it would be working with the Health and Safety Executive “to understand what happened and why.”

Sean Nolan, who witnessed the aftermath of the explosion, said he had heard a “boom and echo” but thought it was a vehicle collision.

“I heard what I thought may have been two trucks colliding by the way it shook the ground… it was big,” he told the PA news agency.

“I continued doing what I was doing, but a couple of the lads came out to see if I was alright.

Rescue crews at the scene (Ben Birchall/PA)

Mr Nolan said there had been “a lot of commotion” in the minutes immediately after, but the incident itself had been “quite short-lived”.

“There were a lot of sirens coming in and some helicopter activity above as well,” he said.

“It (the helicopter) was circling for a good hour or so.

“It was quite short-lived, I’d say about two or three seconds. Sort of a boom and echo and then it just went quiet.

“That was it. There was no smoke, there was no after-effects of it.”

Jawad Burhan took a photo showing a tank that had exploded after the blast.

The scene in Avonmouth (Ben Birchall/PA)

Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, said: “This is a serious incident and my thoughts are with those workers who have injured on site today.”