Reply #31: Here's the report from The Guardian [View All]

8.15am update

Fuel depot hit by huge blasts

Staff and agencies
Sunday December 11, 2005

A series of explosions tore through an oil depot early today, sending flames and smoke shooting hundreds of feet into the sky. Police and emergency crews raced to the scene of the blasts which rocked Buncefield fuel terminal, near Hemel Hempstead, in Hertfordshire.

There were unconfirmed reports of casualties at the depot. Police said the incident was an "accident". The first blast happened just after 6am at the fuel terminal in Leverstock Green, which is believed to supply aviation fuel via pipes to Heathrow airport.

The force of the blast - which was heard up to 40 miles away - sent flames shooting 200ft into the sky. A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire police said: "Police and other emergency services are attending the area of Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead this morning following reports of an explosion just after 6am.

"There is nothing to suggest at this stage that this is anything but an accident, but we are keeping an open mind." Referring to earlier reports, she said: "Contrary to rumours in circulation, there is also nothing to suggest that a plane was involved in this accident."

<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1664888,00.html?gusrc=rss>
(more at link above)