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| Steel plant explosion: Two hurt at Tata in Port Talbot | Steel plant explosion: Two hurt at Tata in Port Talbot |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two people have been hurt in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK. | Two people have been hurt in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK. |
| 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 rising above the plant. | Images posted on social media show flames at the site and plumes of smoke rising above the plant. |
| Tata Steel said the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, but the fires were now out and all employees had been accounted for. | Tata Steel said the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, but the fires were now out and all employees had been accounted for. |
| "Two of our employees suffered minor injuries and both have been released following treatment," the company said in a statement. | "Two of our employees suffered minor injuries and both have been released following treatment," the company said in a statement. |
| "The spillage led to a number of fires which were extinguished by our own emergency services supported by members of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. | "The spillage led to a number of fires which were extinguished by our own emergency services supported by members of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. |
| "We are currently investigating the cause of the incident and are looking to minimise any impact on production." | "We are currently investigating the cause of the incident and are looking to minimise any impact on production." |
| BBC Wales understands the explosion happened outdoors, on a stretch of railway track between the engineering shops and the locomotive repair shops, caused by molten metal coming into contact with cold water. | |
| The site had reopened by 07:00 and Tata said it was assessing any damage. | |
| Lance Davies, who lives at the highest point in the town, said it was a "miracle" no-one was killed. | Lance Davies, who lives at the highest point in the town, said it was a "miracle" no-one was killed. |
| "I was woken up this morning by what sounded like thunder, I went to the window and could see the results of the first explosion, then I called my partner and saw the other two," he added. | "I was woken up this morning by what sounded like thunder, I went to the window and could see the results of the first explosion, then I called my partner and saw the other two," he added. |
| "That was all you could see - it was like a scene from Independence Day - a big ball of flame, followed by a massive mushroom of smoke. It was unbelievable." | "That was all you could see - it was like a scene from Independence Day - a big ball of flame, followed by a massive mushroom of smoke. It was unbelievable." |
| Sharon Freeguard, a Neath Port Talbot councillor, said: "I thought I heard about two to three explosions. It was extremely frightening and very, very scary. | Sharon Freeguard, a Neath Port Talbot councillor, said: "I thought I heard about two to three explosions. It was extremely frightening and very, very scary. |
| "The house just shook, so it was quite alarming. Once it was over, I did wonder what it was and just did think about the works. | "The house just shook, so it was quite alarming. Once it was over, I did wonder what it was and just did think about the works. |
| "We're just all relieved that there are no fatalities." | "We're just all relieved that there are no fatalities." |
| Local resident Craig Williams said he heard "an almighty bang", adding: "It's very unusual to hear something of that magnitude. | Local resident Craig Williams said he heard "an almighty bang", adding: "It's very unusual to hear something of that magnitude. |
| "The house shook a little. It's not something we are accustomed to." | |
| Mr Williams said Port Talbot "revolves around this plant" and it helps to "bring the community together". | Mr Williams said Port Talbot "revolves around this plant" and it helps to "bring the community together". |
| The steelworks is the largest in the UK and employs more than 4,000 people. | The steelworks is the largest in the UK and employs more than 4,000 people. |
| Helicopters were circling overhead and South Wales Police said it received "numerous calls" shortly after 03:30 "reporting an explosion". | Helicopters were circling overhead and South Wales Police said it received "numerous calls" shortly after 03:30 "reporting an explosion". |
| South Wales Police said: "The explosion caused some small fires which are all under control and damage to some buildings on the site." | South Wales Police said: "The explosion caused some small fires which are all under control and damage to some buildings on the site." |
| Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews had left the scene by 08:30. The Health and Safety Executive added it would be making contact with the emergency services. | Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews had left the scene by 08:30. The Health and Safety Executive added it would be making contact with the emergency services. |
| The explosion was heard as far away as Bridgend, 14 miles (22km) from the blast, and the National Police Air Service's St Athan wing confirmed a helicopter had been scrambled to the scene. | The explosion was heard as far away as Bridgend, 14 miles (22km) from the blast, and the National Police Air Service's St Athan wing confirmed a helicopter had been scrambled to the scene. |
| Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock said safety at the plant had improved "massively" since 2001, when three workers were killed in a blast.The force added that there was no need for concern about hazardous effects from the smoke. | |
| "I think there needs to be a full review," he added. "We've got to understand why it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. | "I think there needs to be a full review," he added. "We've got to understand why it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. |
| "This is a very technical and complex process of making steel and things do go wrong sometimes. | "This is a very technical and complex process of making steel and things do go wrong sometimes. |
| "We've got to have a process in place to make sure the workforce are supported, to make sure they've got all the resources they need to protect health and safety for the workforce and for all of the people in the town." | "We've got to have a process in place to make sure the workforce are supported, to make sure they've got all the resources they need to protect health and safety for the workforce and for all of the people in the town." |
| He said he would be speaking to Tata later and Aberavon AM David Rees has also requested a meeting with the steel firm. | He said he would be speaking to Tata later and Aberavon AM David Rees has also requested a meeting with the steel firm. |
| A spokesman for union Community said its representatives were holding urgent meetings at the site. | A spokesman for union Community said its representatives were holding urgent meetings at the site. |
| "It is important that all appropriate procedures are followed now to ensure lessons are learnt and any necessary changes are implemented," he added. | "It is important that all appropriate procedures are followed now to ensure lessons are learnt and any necessary changes are implemented," he added. |
| At the scene - BBC reporter Will Fyfe | At the scene - BBC reporter Will Fyfe |
| "I'm stood just very close to one of the main entrances to the plant and actually everything so far seems to be business as normal this morning. | "I'm stood just very close to one of the main entrances to the plant and actually everything so far seems to be business as normal this morning. |
| "There's the normal traffic - shift workers coming in and out. | "There's the normal traffic - shift workers coming in and out. |
| "The activity this morning really is in stark contrast some of the very dramatic photographs and footage - and some of those eyewitness accounts that talk about an explosion that was so loud it had blown bedroom doors open of some of the houses of people living nearby." | "The activity this morning really is in stark contrast some of the very dramatic photographs and footage - and some of those eyewitness accounts that talk about an explosion that was so loud it had blown bedroom doors open of some of the houses of people living nearby." |