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Pembroke Chevron refinery blast: Inquiry after four die | Pembroke Chevron refinery blast: Inquiry after four die |
(40 minutes later) | |
An investigation is under way after four contractors were killed in an explosion and fire at a Pembrokeshire oil refinery. | An investigation is under way after four contractors were killed in an explosion and fire at a Pembrokeshire oil refinery. |
Another worker is critically ill with burns after the blast at the Chevron refinery, Pembroke, at 1820 BST on Thursday. | |
Chevron said the explosion, during maintenance, destroyed one 730 cubic metre storage tank and damaged another. | Chevron said the explosion, during maintenance, destroyed one 730 cubic metre storage tank and damaged another. |
Non-essential work was suspended on Friday. | |
Chevron said it had launched its own investigation, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with one storage tank destroyed and another damaged in the incident. | Chevron said it had launched its own investigation, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with one storage tank destroyed and another damaged in the incident. |
Production was able to continue but the company had decided to suspend all non-essential work on Friday. | Production was able to continue but the company had decided to suspend all non-essential work on Friday. |
A spokeswoman said Chevron was a "close family" and counselling was being offered to the 1,400-strong workforce. | A spokeswoman said Chevron was a "close family" and counselling was being offered to the 1,400-strong workforce. |
Dyfed-Powys Police said the bodies would remain at the scene and indentification would be protracted because of the severity of the accident. | |
Their recovery is being made more difficulty by the unstable nature of the building. | Their recovery is being made more difficulty by the unstable nature of the building. |
I arrived late on Thursday night to find the road leading to the refinery blocked off and signs that the emergency services were at the site. | I arrived late on Thursday night to find the road leading to the refinery blocked off and signs that the emergency services were at the site. |
As the refinery it is such a huge complex it was hard initially to assess the scale of the damage. | As the refinery it is such a huge complex it was hard initially to assess the scale of the damage. |
On Friday morning the scene surrounding the refinery appeared to be fairly normal, but our news helicopter was able to reveal the scale of the damage around the exploded tank. | On Friday morning the scene surrounding the refinery appeared to be fairly normal, but our news helicopter was able to reveal the scale of the damage around the exploded tank. |
Although people here are clearly used to living next door to a refinery and the potential hazard that that entails, this event has clearly shaken them. | Although people here are clearly used to living next door to a refinery and the potential hazard that that entails, this event has clearly shaken them. |
Most people in the community know at least one person working at the plant and are worried about the identities of those killed and injured. | Most people in the community know at least one person working at the plant and are worried about the identities of those killed and injured. |
Five Mid and West Wales fire crews joined the refinery's own fire fighters in tackling the blaze, while specialist fire units, including foam vehicles and a chemical incident unit were sent to the scene. | Five Mid and West Wales fire crews joined the refinery's own fire fighters in tackling the blaze, while specialist fire units, including foam vehicles and a chemical incident unit were sent to the scene. |
Greg Hanggi, refinery general manager, said: "The loss of our co-workers has come as a huge shock to us all. | Greg Hanggi, refinery general manager, said: "The loss of our co-workers has come as a huge shock to us all. |
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to their families. We will ensure that all employees and contractors are fully supported throughout this difficult time." | "Our thoughts and deepest sympathy go out to their families. We will ensure that all employees and contractors are fully supported throughout this difficult time." |
He added that Chevron would take every step possible to determine the series of events leading to the tragic incident and ensure that any lessons would be learned. | He added that Chevron would take every step possible to determine the series of events leading to the tragic incident and ensure that any lessons would be learned. |
Mr Hanggi also paid tribute to the emergency services who attended. | Mr Hanggi also paid tribute to the emergency services who attended. |
First Minister Carwyn Jones offered his sympathy to bereaved families and workers, adding: "I am shocked to learn of the accident at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke". | First Minister Carwyn Jones offered his sympathy to bereaved families and workers, adding: "I am shocked to learn of the accident at the Chevron refinery in Pembroke". |
Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan added her condolences to families and colleagues of the dead. | Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan added her condolences to families and colleagues of the dead. |
"We've been in contact with Chevron and Milford Haven Port Authority and asked to be kept fully informed about the investigation into this tragic event," she said. | "We've been in contact with Chevron and Milford Haven Port Authority and asked to be kept fully informed about the investigation into this tragic event," she said. |
"It is essential to understand how this tragedy occurred." | "It is essential to understand how this tragedy occurred." |
Eyewitnesses in the area described the moment when the blast occurred. | Eyewitnesses in the area described the moment when the blast occurred. |
Marcus Lutwyche, owner of a shop in the village of Angle near the refinery, said: "I ran to the front and saw a huge plume of smoke. It was black and filled the sky. It must have been 50 or so metres wide." | Marcus Lutwyche, owner of a shop in the village of Angle near the refinery, said: "I ran to the front and saw a huge plume of smoke. It was black and filled the sky. It must have been 50 or so metres wide." |
His wife, Joanne Lutwyche, said: "Quite a few people in the village work at Chevron and would have been changing shifts when the explosion happened, so everyone's really concerned for who might be involved. | His wife, Joanne Lutwyche, said: "Quite a few people in the village work at Chevron and would have been changing shifts when the explosion happened, so everyone's really concerned for who might be involved. |
"The last time something like this happened must have been about 17 years ago." | "The last time something like this happened must have been about 17 years ago." |
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." |
'No ongoing risk' | 'No ongoing risk' |
Earlier Ch Supt Gwyn Thomas of Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were informing the victims' families and an investigation was under way into what appeared to be a "tragic industrial incident". | Earlier Ch Supt Gwyn Thomas of Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were informing the victims' families and an investigation was under way into what appeared to be a "tragic industrial 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. | 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Earlier this year the sale of the refinery, which is one of the largest in western Europe and employs 1,400 people, was secured. | Earlier this year the sale of the refinery, which is one of the largest in western Europe and employs 1,400 people, was secured. |
Valero agreed to buy the refinery site for $730m (£458m) and another $1bn (£611m) for assets including Chevron's petrol stations in the UK and Ireland. | Valero agreed to buy the refinery site for $730m (£458m) and another $1bn (£611m) for assets including Chevron's petrol stations in the UK and Ireland. |
There have been previous incidents at the refinery. | There have been previous incidents at the refinery. |
The most notable was in July 1994, with an explosion and fire at refinery, when 26 workers were slightly injured and homes as far away as Milford Haven damaged. | The most notable was in July 1994, with an explosion and fire at refinery, when 26 workers were slightly injured and homes as far away as Milford Haven damaged. |
However Simon Hart, Conservative MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, praised the plant's safety record. | However Simon Hart, Conservative MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, praised the plant's safety record. |
"It's a really important business but it is a dangerous one and it's had a fantastic safety record," he said. | "It's a really important business but it is a dangerous one and it's had a fantastic safety record," he said. |
"Credit where credit's due, it's had a long, good record. | "Credit where credit's due, it's had a long, good record. |
"I don't think we should go around dishing out blame until the investigation is over." | "I don't think we should go around dishing out blame until the investigation is over." |