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Man injured in oil tank explosion Man injured in oil tank explosion
(about 1 hour 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. Witnesses reported seeing huge flames rising into the air at the height of the blaze at the Kingsnorth Industrial Estate on the Hoo peninsula.
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 blast but there were no other injuries.
Nine staff were on the premises at the time of the explosion but everyone was accounted for. An ambulance spokeswoman said the injured man had been engulfed by flames and blown off the exploding tanker.
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 to minor burns.
He was taken to the Medway Maritime Hospital for treatment.
Three tanksThree tanks
There were no other injuries in the blast. Police said the industrial estate and businesses in the area were 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 were 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.
Although crews remained at the scene, the blaze had been brought under control by mid-afternoon.
Roads surrounding the area were later reopened and the cordon scaled down.
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.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."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.