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Bosley explosion: 'Four missing' in wood works blast Bosley explosion: 'Four missing' in Wood Flour Mills 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.Three people have been taken to hospital suffering burns.
They described it as a "major incident", with firefighters not ruling out further explosions. Cheshire Police 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."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.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.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.
Steve Barnes, from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "When we arrived it was a scene of devastation. The surrounding area is unsafe and hazardous to firefighters."
He said the crews were trying to make the area safe to be in a position to carry out any potential rescue.
Emergency services said it was too early to ascertain what had caused the blaze.
Cheshire East Council has asked people to avoid the Tunstall Road area of Bosley.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. Police said smoke is drifting north east, with residents 15 miles away in Wildboarclough 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. More than 40 pupils at Bosley St Mary's C of E Primary School, which is about a mile 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.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.""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."He added: "Electricity has been off for a couple of hours now. We've had sandwich lunches but are coping well."
At the sceneAt the scene
BBC Radio Manchester reporter Michelle AdamsonBBC 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. Sarah Nixon, from Bosley Cloud, said: "I live less than half a mile from the wood flour mill and the explosion sounded as if a car had just crashed into the house with a very deep bang.
"When I went outside you could see the huge pall of smoke and the flames leaping up from down near the works." "The explosion shook the whole house rattling windows and doors, just like an earthquake.
"The black and grey smoke plummeted up along with flames and has engulfed the valley below."
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.
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