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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.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 happened during routine maintenance of one of its 730 cubic metre storage tanks.
Non-essential work was suspended on Friday.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.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.
Chief Supt Dean Richards said: "Early indications suggest that this is a tragic industrial incident.
"Sadly four people have lost their lives, and a fifth person remains in hospital, critically ill.
"We are not currently in a position to release the names of the victims, as they have not yet been formally identified, and this process may take some time."
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 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. BBC Wales correspondent Hywel Griffith said it was understood one of those who died was a woman in her 50s.
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. Five Mid and West Wales fire crews had 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.
The tank at the centre of the incident contained a component which refiners "routinely used," said a Chevron spokeswoman.
It had been left "out of action," while another tank was damaged.
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."