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Steel plant explosion: Two burned at Tata in Port Talbot | Steel plant explosion: Two burned at Tata in Port Talbot |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Two workers suffered burns in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK. | Two workers suffered burns in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK. |
Residents living near the Port Talbot plant heard a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST. | Residents living near the Port Talbot plant heard a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST. |
Images and footage posted on social media show a huge mushroom cloud and plumes of smoke rising above the plant. | Images and footage posted on social media show a huge mushroom cloud 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. | BBC Wales understands the explosion happened outdoors on a stretch of railway track between the engineering shops and the locomotive repair shops. |
Stephen Davies from the Unite union believes a train - carrying a "torpedo" which holds the molten metal - derailed, leading to the metal coming into contact with cold water. | Stephen Davies from the Unite union believes a train - carrying a "torpedo" which holds the molten metal - derailed, leading to the metal coming into contact with cold water. |
He said: "They [the men] were both on the train. One of them is close to retirement and the other is younger,". | He said: "They [the men] were both on the train. One of them is close to retirement and the other is younger,". |
One of them had a burn to the head and the other to the chest, he added. | One of them had a burn to the head and the other to the chest, he added. |
The site reopened by 07:00 although production at blast furnaces four and five have been halted until all checks had been completed, Mr Davies said. | The site reopened by 07:00 although production at blast furnaces four and five have been halted until all checks had been completed, Mr Davies said. |
Lance Davies, 36, who lives at the highest point in the town overlooking it and the steelworks, said it was a "miracle" no-one was killed. | Lance Davies, 36, who lives at the highest point in the town overlooking it and the steelworks, 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." | "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 the 10 appliances it had at the scene left by 08:40. The Health and Safety Executive added it would be making contact with the emergency services. | Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the 10 appliances it had at the scene left by 08:40. 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. | |
He said he had spoken with Tata bosses on Friday and was told a review was under way into the cause. | |
"We've got to understand why it happened and make sure it doesn't happen again," he said. | |
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. |