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Port Talbot Tata steelworks: Police attend 'explosion' | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Police are at Tata's Welsh steelworks following reports of an explosion at the plant in the early hours. | |
Residents living near the Port Talbot plant spoke of hearing a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST. | Residents living near the Port Talbot plant spoke of hearing a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST. |
Images posted on social media show flames at the site and plumes of smoke. Helicopters were reported to be circling overhead. | Images posted on social media show flames at the site and plumes of smoke. Helicopters were reported to be circling overhead. |
Tata Steel said the fires at the plant are "under control" and all employees had been accounted for. | |
It said there had been no serious injuries. | |
South Wales Police said in a statement that it received "numerous calls" shortly after 03:30 "reporting an explosion". | |
"At this time we believe there are just two casualties with minor injuries," it added. | |
'A huge bang' | |
Local resident Craig Williams told the BBC that he heard "an almighty bang". | |
"It's very unusual to hear something of that magnitude," he said. | |
"It was just a huge bang. The house shook a little. It's not something we are accustomed too" | |
Mr Williams said that Port Talbot "revolves around this plant" and that it helps to "bring the community together". | |
A Tata Steel spokesman said the company was working with emergency services. | |
He said: "We can confirm there has been an incident at our Port Talbot site. | He said: "We can confirm there has been an incident at our Port Talbot site. |
"Emergency services have attended and are working with our on-site services. | "Emergency services have attended and are working with our on-site services. |
"We will provide an update as soon as we know more." | "We will provide an update as soon as we know more." |
Tata had recently invested £50m in the plant to refit a blast furnace. It has pledged to invest £1bn over 10 years if market conditions allow. |