This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33566064
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Bosley explosion: 'Four missing' in wood works blast | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Four people are thought to be trapped and there are "multiple casualties" after several explosions at a wood treatment works near Macclesfield. | Four people are thought to be trapped and there are "multiple casualties" after several explosions at a wood treatment works near Macclesfield. |
A four-storey building collapsed at Wood Flour Mills on Tunstall Road, Bosley, at 09:10 BST, with large fires breaking out, the fire service said. | A four-storey building collapsed at Wood Flour Mills on Tunstall Road, Bosley, at 09:10 BST, with large fires breaking out, the fire service said. |
Three people have been taken to hospital suffering burns. | |
They described it as a "major incident", with firefighters not ruling out further explosions. | They described it as a "major incident", with firefighters not ruling out further explosions. |
The force added the "vast majority of staff are accounted for and safe and well". | The force added the "vast majority of staff are accounted for and safe and well". |
West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "A 29-year-old woman has sustained serious burns and blast injuries to her head, face, arms and chest." | |
She was taken by air ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. | |
Paramedics said 35 other people were assessed at the scene, with no injuries reported. | |
'Still raging' | 'Still raging' |
Fifteen fire engines are at the scene, with search and rescue teams also called to assist with the rescue efforts. | Fifteen fire engines are at the scene, with search and rescue teams also called to assist with the rescue efforts. |
Ch Insp Paul Carroll from Cheshire Police told BBC Radio Stoke: "The fire is still raging at this point in time. | Ch Insp Paul Carroll from Cheshire Police told BBC Radio Stoke: "The fire is still raging at this point in time. |
"We've had a number of multiple explosions on site which have hindered our access in searching for unaccounted persons." | "We've had a number of multiple explosions on site which have hindered our access in searching for unaccounted persons." |
Follow regular updates on BBC Stoke and Staffordshire's Local Live feed. | Follow regular updates on BBC Stoke and Staffordshire's Local Live feed. |
Cheshire East Council has asked people to avoid the Tunstall Road area of Bosley. | |
Police said smoke is drifting in a north east direction, with residents as far as Wildboarclough 15 miles away advised to close doors and windows. | |
More than 40 pupils at Bosley St Mary's C of E Primary School, which is about a mile away from the explosion site, were being kept inside the school building. | |
Raj Barard, headteacher, said: "We heard and we felt the explosion just after 09:00 BST. Police told us to keep the children indoors. | |
"It felt like an earthquake. We had our leavers service in the school instead of at the church over the road." | |
He added: "Electricity has been off for a couple of hours now. We've had sandwich lunches but are coping well." | |
At the scene | At the scene |
BBC Radio Manchester reporter Michelle Adamson | BBC Radio Manchester reporter Michelle Adamson |
Looking out from a car park, two or three fields away, there are plumes and clouds of smoke. These were white and grey in colour but are now black. | Looking out from a car park, two or three fields away, there are plumes and clouds of smoke. These were white and grey in colour but are now black. |
You can taste the smoke after this substantial explosion and subsequent fire. | You can taste the smoke after this substantial explosion and subsequent fire. |
As I was arriving there were two fire engines squealing past and there is a constant sound of sirens. | As I was arriving there were two fire engines squealing past and there is a constant sound of sirens. |
A whole fleet of ambulances are attending the scene. | A whole fleet of ambulances are attending the scene. |
One Bosley resident told BBC Radio Manchester: "We live more than half a mile away and yet the shockwave was so much that I actually thought something had hit the house. | |
"When I went outside you could see the huge pall of smoke and the flames leaping up from down near the works." | |
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent six ambulances and two rapid response vehicles. An air ambulance was also at the scene. | North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent six ambulances and two rapid response vehicles. An air ambulance was also at the scene. |
An NWAS spokesperson said: "So far one patient has been taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital by land ambulance and one patient taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, by air ambulance suffering from burns." | An NWAS spokesperson said: "So far one patient has been taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital by land ambulance and one patient taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, by air ambulance suffering from burns." |
Electricity North West said power was cut to 165 homes in Bosely to "allow firefighters to carry out their work safely". | Electricity North West said power was cut to 165 homes in Bosely to "allow firefighters to carry out their work safely". |
Angela Shuker, who lives one farm along from the wood treatment works, said: "Our doors in the house just banged. We could see the flames rising not far from us down the road from the mill." | Angela Shuker, who lives one farm along from the wood treatment works, said: "Our doors in the house just banged. We could see the flames rising not far from us down the road from the mill." |
Charli Alston, 18, was walking her dog when she witnessed the explosion. | Charli Alston, 18, was walking her dog when she witnessed the explosion. |
She said: "I was walking down my drive and there was just a huge bang. It sounded like a thunder cloud, we didn't know what it was. | She said: "I was walking down my drive and there was just a huge bang. It sounded like a thunder cloud, we didn't know what it was. |
"We looked over and there were massive plumes of flames. Almost as high as the hill next to it." | "We looked over and there were massive plumes of flames. Almost as high as the hill next to it." |
Are you in the area? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in the area? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |