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| Buncefield blast firm 'negligent' | Buncefield blast firm 'negligent' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A High Court judge has ruled that oil company Total UK was negligent over the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire. | A High Court judge has ruled that oil company Total UK was negligent over the explosion at the Buncefield oil depot in Hertfordshire. |
| The petrol fire at the Hemel Hempstead depot in December 2005 was Britain's biggest peacetime explosion. | The petrol fire at the Hemel Hempstead depot in December 2005 was Britain's biggest peacetime explosion. |
| Mr Justice David Steel brought in a summary ruling after both Total and Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL) agreed there had been negligence. | Mr Justice David Steel brought in a summary ruling after both Total and Hertfordshire Oil Storage Ltd (HOSL) agreed there had been negligence. |
| Compensation claims worth hundreds of millions of pounds have been filed. | |
| The claims, from individuals, residents' associations, loss assessors, companies and insurers, allege losses resulting from the explosion and blaze which injured 43 people. | The claims, from individuals, residents' associations, loss assessors, companies and insurers, allege losses resulting from the explosion and blaze which injured 43 people. |
| The blaze engulfed more than 20 large fuel storage tanks, and buildings around the site where 2,000 people were working had to be evacuated. | |
| Human error | |
| The 630 businesses on the nearby Maylands Industrial Estate were disrupted and damage was caused to homes in Dacorum and St Albans. | |
| A third company, Chevron, involved in the legal action, has denied negligence. | |
| Further court proceedings will now take place in October. | Further court proceedings will now take place in October. |
| If no settlement is reached prior to the court date, the judge will rule on liability and the size of any damages. | If no settlement is reached prior to the court date, the judge will rule on liability and the size of any damages. |
| Total UK will admit the incident was due to negligence, after a fuel gauge failed to register a petrol storage tank was full and 300 tonnes of fuel was spilled. But the firm will argue it should not be liable for damages as it could not have foreseen that it would cause the destruction that it did. | |
| A report in 2006 by an independent investigation board found human error and faulty safety equipment were responsible for the explosion. | A report in 2006 by an independent investigation board found human error and faulty safety equipment were responsible for the explosion. |