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Two people reportedly dead in explosion at Norwich industrial estate Two dead in explosion at Norwich industrial estate
(about 1 hour later)
Two people are reported to have died and a number of people injured in an explosion on an industrial estate in Norfolk. Two people have died following an explosion on an industrial estate in Norfolk.
Emergency services including the air ambulance and fire crew are at the scene in Hellesdon, a suburb in Norwich, following an explosion at 9.20am. Smoke was visible rising from the site on Spar Road, digger bucket manufacturer Harford Attachments. Norfolk police said the incident took place at 9.20am at a unit on Spar Road in Hellesdon, Norwich.
Air ambulance has just left the scene of the fire on Spar Road. pic.twitter.com/NqX5saF8El The men, one in his 50s and one in his 20s, are both thought to have worked on the premises. The men “died as the result of the incident shortly after 9am”, police said. No one else required medical attention.
Norfolk police said: “There are believed to be a number of casualties although the severity of their injuries has not been confirmed at this time. All emergency services are at the scene while road closures and exclusion zones are currently being considered.” Police, paramedics and firefighters were called to Harford Attachments, a manufacturer of digger buckets, following the explosion.
We are currently at the scene of an ongoing industrial incident on Spar Road, Hellesdon - http://t.co/QWiI7q61cW
The estate has been largely shut off with roadblocks at the Vulcan Road junction and Concorde Road junction.
Keith Swann, 56, branch manager of nearby Automotive Parts Distribution, told the Eastern Daily Press: “There was a big cloud of black smoke behind us. We could see the black smoke coming across the top of the building and it went really dark. We didn’t know what was going on. Ten minutes after that, the air ambulance arrived.”
Air ambulance now leaving the scene of fire/explosion in Spar Road. pic.twitter.com/tfZUtwgteFAir ambulance now leaving the scene of fire/explosion in Spar Road. pic.twitter.com/tfZUtwgteF
Smoke was seen rising from the site in the Norwich suburbs. Norfolk police said: “All emergency services are at the scene while road closures and exclusion zones are currently being considered.”
The estate has been largely shut off, with roadblocks in place at Spar Road to the junction with Vulcan Road North, and Vulcan Road South and the bottom of Concorde Road, police said.
Witnesses reported seeing black smoke soaring up into the sky followed by pitch-black darkness. Ashley Cashfield, 22, who works at nearby Plastic Building Supplies, said he saw thick black plumes of smoke as he drove to work.
Staff stood outside the building “with panic in people’s eyes”, he said, adding: “They looked quite distressed.” The building had been evacuated but emergency services had not yet arrived at that time.
Air ambulance has just left the scene of the fire on Spar Road. pic.twitter.com/NqX5saF8El
Dale Evans, sales adviser at nearby Indespension Tow Bars, said: “We had the workshop doors open this morning and a lot of fire trucks and ambulances came past. We came out to have a look at what was going on - there must have been six or seven fire trucks,” he said.
Keith Swann, 56, branch manager of nearby Automotive Parts Distribution, told the Eastern Daily Press: “There was a big cloud of black smoke behind us. We could see the black smoke coming across the top of the building and it went really dark.”
“We didn’t know what was going on. Ten minutes after that, the air ambulance arrived,” he said.