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Five men dead in Boston industrial estate explosion Five men dead in Boston industrial estate explosion
(about 2 hours later)
Five men have been killed and a sixth has been seriously injured in an explosion at an industrial estate in Lincolnshire.Five men have been killed and a sixth has been seriously injured in an explosion at an industrial estate in Lincolnshire.
Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate in Boston at about 1900 BST on Wednesday.Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to the Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate in Boston at about 1900 BST on Wednesday.
A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said she believed the explosion had been quick and the men had died instantly. A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said she believed the men died instantly in the force of the explosion.
The sixth man has been taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. There have been claims the men may have been brewing illegal alcohol.
Unconfirmed reports from residents said they believed the men may have been migrant workers brewing illegal alcohol in the industrial unit. Dick Holmes, of Lincolnshire Police, confirmed that was one line of inquiry and appealed for anyone with information about the men and what activity was taking place at the unit to contact officers.
Nerys McGarry, from Lincolnshire Police, said officers were at the scene and would remain at the unit overnight to carry out a forensic examination of the site. The sixth man was taken to Boston's Pilgrim Hospital but later tranferred to the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham.
Nerys McGarry, from Lincolnshire Police, said officers were at the scene and would remain at the unit throughout the night to carry out a forensic examination of the site.
Arm 'ablaze'Arm 'ablaze'
She said it was not yet clear what had caused the blast.She said it was not yet clear what had caused the blast.
Ms McGarry said she understood the explosion was a rapid blast as opposed to an "extensive fire" but could not give any further details.Ms McGarry said she understood the explosion was a rapid blast as opposed to an "extensive fire" but could not give any further details.
"We do not have any further information about the men, their ages and where they are from but we will be making inquiries throughout the night and can give a further update in the morning," she said."We do not have any further information about the men, their ages and where they are from but we will be making inquiries throughout the night and can give a further update in the morning," she said.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire reporter Scott Dalton, who was at the scene, said residents in the area had seen thick, black smoke coming from the industrial estate.BBC Radio Lincolnshire reporter Scott Dalton, who was at the scene, said residents in the area had seen thick, black smoke coming from the industrial estate.
"Locals have been telling me they didn't even hear an explosion or even a bang," he said."Locals have been telling me they didn't even hear an explosion or even a bang," he said.
Paul Featherstone, who lives nearby, described hearing "one fire engine come down, then a few more". Paul Featherstone, who lives nearby, said: "I didn't hear an explosion, I just saw the smoke. If the explosion didn't kill them, the smoke would have done because it was that bad. It was thick, black smoke coming through the roller doors."
"I didn't hear an explosion, I just saw the smoke. If the explosion didn't kill them, the smoke would have done because it was that bad. It was thick, black smoke coming through the roller doors," said Mr Featherstone.
He added he was told by another eyewitness that one man ran out "with his arm all ablaze".He added he was told by another eyewitness that one man ran out "with his arm all ablaze".
It is understood this is the man who was initially taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital before being transferred to the QMC in Nottingham. It is understood this is the man who is now being treated at the QMC.
'Intense fire''Intense fire'
Steve Moore, area manager with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the building appeared to have been the scene "of a very hot fire with a very rapid spread".Steve Moore, area manager with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the building appeared to have been the scene "of a very hot fire with a very rapid spread".
"When the first crews attended they were faced with a really serious fire and a casualty who was outside the building suffering from burns."When the first crews attended they were faced with a really serious fire and a casualty who was outside the building suffering from burns.
"Their initial reaction was to treat the casualty. The incoming crew then started to fight the fire, it was a really hot, intense fire.""Their initial reaction was to treat the casualty. The incoming crew then started to fight the fire, it was a really hot, intense fire."
Crews were forced to use hydraulic equipment to get into the unit.Crews were forced to use hydraulic equipment to get into the unit.
"The intensity of the fire buckled the roller shutters and set alight to a car outside," he said. "The intensity of the fire buckled the roller shutters and set alight a car outside," he said.
He added: "For all the firefighters I've spoken to this is the most significant loss of life in a fire that they've ever attended for many of these crews." He added: "For all the firefighters I've spoken to this is the most significant loss of life in a fire that they've ever attended."
Speaking on BBC News, Lincolnshire Police spokesman Dick Holmes said the five dead men had been killed "pretty much outright". Speaking on BBC News, Dick Holmes said the five dead men had been killed "pretty much outright".
He described the sixth man as having been "very seriously injured".He described the sixth man as having been "very seriously injured".
Commenting on claims that the men might have been brewing alcohol, he confirmed it was one line of inquiry but appealed for anyone who may know what activity was taking place at the unit to contact police.
The industrial estate was close to the town centre and made up of between 12 and 15 units that were "relatively small", he said.The industrial estate was close to the town centre and made up of between 12 and 15 units that were "relatively small", he said.
Boston Central Councillor Peter Bedford described the news as a "real shock". Boston Central Councillor Peter Bedford described the incident as a "real shock".
"There is heavy industry in that industrial estate, there's a scrapyard, there's joinery works, it's a real mix.""There is heavy industry in that industrial estate, there's a scrapyard, there's joinery works, it's a real mix."
Boston East councillor Mike Gilbert said: "I'm very anxious to find out exactly what's happened. It's a lot of people dead and a great tragedy."Boston East councillor Mike Gilbert said: "I'm very anxious to find out exactly what's happened. It's a lot of people dead and a great tragedy."
Canon Robin Whitehead, Rector of Boston, said the incident as "extremely sad and tragic". Canon Robin Whitehead, Rector of Boston, said the incident was "extremely sad and tragic".
Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate is made up of about 10 units, including a furniture store, a scrap yard, a tyre place and a car maintenance business. The site is surrounded by houses and is close to Boston town centre. Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate includes a furniture store, a scrap yard, a tyre firm and a car maintenance business. The site is surrounded by houses and is close to Boston town centre.
Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Please use the form below to get in touch with your eyewitness accounts.Are you in the area? Did you witness the blast? Please use the form below to get in touch with your eyewitness accounts.
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