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Man injured in oil tank explosion | Man injured in oil tank explosion |
(40 minutes later) | |
One man has suffered minor injuries in an explosion and fire involving two oil tanks at a Kent engineering company. | One man has suffered minor injuries in an explosion and fire involving two oil tanks at a Kent engineering company. |
The emergency services were called to the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, on the Hoo peninsula, at 0930 BST. | The emergency services were called to the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate, on the Hoo peninsula, at 0930 BST. |
Witnesses reported seeing huge flames rising into the air at its height but Kent Fire and Rescue said the fire had been surrounded and was under control. | Witnesses reported seeing huge flames rising into the air at its height but Kent Fire and Rescue said the fire had been surrounded and was under control. |
Nine staff were on the premises at the time of the explosion but everyone was accounted for. | Nine staff were on the premises at the time of the explosion but everyone was accounted for. |
An ambulance spokeswoman said she understood the injured man had been engulfed by flames and blown off the exploding tanker but had suffered only minor burns. | An ambulance spokeswoman said she understood the injured man had been engulfed by flames and blown off the exploding tanker but had suffered only minor burns. |
He was taken to the Medway Maritime Hospital for treatment. | He was taken to the Medway Maritime Hospital for treatment. |
Three tanks | Three tanks |
There were no other injuries in the blast. | There were no other injuries in the blast. |
Police said the industrial estate and businesses in the area had been evacuated and an exclusion zone put in place around the scene of the fire. | Police said the industrial estate and businesses in the area had been evacuated and an exclusion zone put in place around the scene of the fire. |
Householders living around the site have also been told to stay indoors with the windows closed as a precautionary measure. | Householders living around the site have also been told to stay indoors with the windows closed as a precautionary measure. |
Ch Insp Peter Wedlake, of Kent Police, said the smoke was unpleasant to breathe in, but it was not dangerous. | Ch Insp Peter Wedlake, of Kent Police, said the smoke was unpleasant to breathe in, but it was not dangerous. |
Kent Fire and Rescue said the explosion had involved three tanks - one water tank and two tanks containing used engine oil. | Kent Fire and Rescue said the explosion had involved three tanks - one water tank and two tanks containing used engine oil. |
Each is about 16ft (4.8m) in diameter and height. | Each is about 16ft (4.8m) in diameter and height. |
Spokesman Bill Feeley said when firefighters arrived at the scene they found 200,000 litres of heavy oil alight. | Spokesman Bill Feeley said when firefighters arrived at the scene they found 200,000 litres of heavy oil alight. |
The fire service said one oil tank had ruptured, but had been surrounded by a barrier to stop the oil from spreading while the second tank was being cooled. | The fire service said one oil tank had ruptured, but had been surrounded by a barrier to stop the oil from spreading while the second tank was being cooled. |
BBC South East news reporter Simon Jones, who is at the scene, said at the height of the blaze a huge amount of smoke from the incident had formed a blanket over the whole area. | BBC South East news reporter Simon Jones, who is at the scene, said at the height of the blaze a huge amount of smoke from the incident had formed a blanket over the whole area. |
Local resident, Sam Kitto, said she thought a plane had crashed when she heard the explosion. | Local resident, Sam Kitto, said she thought a plane had crashed when she heard the explosion. |
"I felt the ground moving as well," she added. | "I felt the ground moving as well," she added. |
At least 15 fire appliances and support vehicles were sent to the scene. | At least 15 fire appliances and support vehicles were sent to the scene. |
The Environment Agency said it was concerned about water used to put the fire out getting into the Medway estuary. | |
"We are trying to close the sluices, get a digger in to create a ditch to contain the contaminated water and use tankers to take it away," said a spokesman. | |
The cause of the explosion is not yet known. | The cause of the explosion is not yet known. |