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| Four killed in Pembroke Chevron oil refinery blast | Four killed in Pembroke Chevron oil refinery blast |
| (6 days later) | |
| Four people were killed in an explosion and fire at an oil refinery in west Wales, Dyfed Powys Police have said. | Four people were killed in an explosion and fire at an oil refinery in west Wales, Dyfed Powys Police have said. |
| The blast happened at the Chevron refinery at Pembroke Dock on Thursday. | The blast happened at the Chevron refinery at Pembroke Dock on Thursday. |
| Ch Supt Gwyn Thomas said the explosion was in a 730 cubic metre storage tank where maintenance was being carried out. An adjacent tank was also damaged. | Ch Supt Gwyn Thomas said the explosion was in a 730 cubic metre storage tank where maintenance was being carried out. An adjacent tank was also damaged. |
| He said police were informing the victims' families and an investigation was under way into what appeared to be a "tragic industrial incident". | He said police were informing the victims' families and an investigation was under way into what appeared to be a "tragic industrial incident". |
| 'Tragic incident' | 'Tragic incident' |
| Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air" shortly after 1820 BST. | Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air" shortly after 1820 BST. |
| Ch Supt Thomas said: "A police investigation is now under way, with the Health and Safety Executive, and early indications show that this was a tragic industrial incident. | Ch Supt Thomas said: "A police investigation is now under way, with the Health and Safety Executive, and early indications show that this was a tragic industrial incident. |
| "Police officers have secured the scene, and colleagues from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue are working to make the site safe to enable a multi-agency investigation into the cause of the explosion to commence." | "Police officers have secured the scene, and colleagues from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue are working to make the site safe to enable a multi-agency investigation into the cause of the explosion to commence." |
| Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies said there was no ongoing risk to health to members of the public as a result of the incident. | Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies said there was no ongoing risk to health to members of the public as a result of the incident. |
| "We can confirm that any material released into the atmosphere as a result of the blast was immediately dispersed. The wind was blowing off shore, away from residential areas," he said. | "We can confirm that any material released into the atmosphere as a result of the blast was immediately dispersed. The wind was blowing off shore, away from residential areas," he said. |
| The Health and Safety Executive said it was too early speculate about the cause of the blast. | The Health and Safety Executive said it was too early speculate about the cause of the blast. |
| 'Massive bang' | 'Massive bang' |
| The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 engines to the scene and brought the incident under control within an hour and a half. | The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 engines to the scene and brought the incident under control within an hour and a half. |
| Wales Air Ambulance said a man had been airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with severe burns. | Wales Air Ambulance said a man had been airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with severe burns. |
| Eyewitnesses reported hearing a "massive bang" and saw plumes of black smoke following the blast. | Eyewitnesses reported hearing a "massive bang" and saw plumes of black smoke following the blast. |
| Phil Horne was in his back garden in Milford Haven, on the opposite side of the waterway, at the time of the incident. | Phil Horne was in his back garden in Milford Haven, on the opposite side of the waterway, at the time of the incident. |
| "I heard a large explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky," he said. | "I heard a large explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky," he said. |
| "It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery." | "It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery." |
| Liz Herbert, who also lives on the other side of the haven, said: "I heard a massive bang and saw a huge plume of thick black smoke. | Liz Herbert, who also lives on the other side of the haven, said: "I heard a massive bang and saw a huge plume of thick black smoke. |
| "It was really frightening." | "It was really frightening." |
| In a statement on Thursday evening Chevron said: "Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene. The fire has been extinguished. | In a statement on Thursday evening Chevron said: "Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene. The fire has been extinguished. |
| "We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel." | "We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel." |
| Milford Haven Port Authority said it was aware of the incident but it was not affecting any ship movements on the waterway. | Milford Haven Port Authority said it was aware of the incident but it was not affecting any ship movements on the waterway. |
| It said it had two pilot boats on standby if needed but their assistance had not been requested. | It said it had two pilot boats on standby if needed but their assistance had not been requested. |
| The refinery was formerly known as Texaco, later rebranded Chevron-Texaco and known as Chevron since around 2005. | The refinery was formerly known as Texaco, later rebranded Chevron-Texaco and known as Chevron since around 2005. |
| In March, Chevron confirmed Texan oil company Valero Energy had agreed to buy the refinery for $730m (£446m) and pay a further $1bn (£611m) for the stocks of oil, petrol and other products on site. | In March, Chevron confirmed Texan oil company Valero Energy had agreed to buy the refinery for $730m (£446m) and pay a further $1bn (£611m) for the stocks of oil, petrol and other products on site. |
| The site, which can refine 220,000 barrels of crude oil a day into petrol and other products, has yet to change hands. | The site, which can refine 220,000 barrels of crude oil a day into petrol and other products, has yet to change hands. |