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Bosley explosion: 'Four missing' in Wood Flour Mills blast Bosley explosion: Four missing in Wood Flour Mills blast
(about 3 hours later)
Four people are thought to be trapped and four people have been taken to hospital after three explosions at a wood treatment works near Macclesfield. Three men and a woman are trapped and four people have been taken to hospital after three 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 in Tunstall Road, Bosley, at 09:10 BST, with large fires breaking out, the fire service said.
Cheshire Police 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 said the "vast majority of staff are accounted for and safe".The force said the "vast majority of staff are accounted for and safe".
Cheshire Fire and Rescue said 20 people were working at the plant at the time of the first explosion and there were "quite a few walking wounded". 'Scene of devastation'
Cheshire Fire and Rescue said 20 people were working at Wood Treatment Ltd at the time of the first explosion and there were "quite a few walking wounded".
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.
North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent six ambulances and two rapid response vehicles. An air ambulance was also at the scene. Cheshire Police's Assistant Chief Constable Guy Hindle said: "Four people remain unaccounted for and urban search and rescue teams are assessing the scene to see whether it is safe to go into the property to locate them.
An NWAS spokesperson said: "Two patients have been taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital and one patient has been taken to Whiston Hospital." "We are working with the four families."
Paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service, who were assisting, said 35 people who were on or around the premises were assessed at the scene, with no injuries reported.
'Still raging'
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.
"We've had a number of 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.
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."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.He said the crews were trying to make the area safe to be in a position to carry out any potential rescue.
Chief fire officer Paul Hancock said: "We are still dealing with four unaccounted people. We believe they are somewhere in the building.
"We will endeavour to deal with that issue in a few hours' time once we get the incident under full control."
'Worried for mates'
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: "Two patients have been taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital and one patient has been taken to Whiston Hospital in Merseyside."
Paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service, who were assisting, said 35 people who were on or around the premises were assessed at the scene, with no injuries reported.
Emergency services said it was too early to ascertain what had caused the blaze.Emergency services said it was too early to ascertain what had caused the blaze.
Chief fire officer Paul Hancock said: "We are still dealing with four unaccounted people. We believe they are somewhere in the building. We will endeavour to deal with that issue in a few hours' time once we get the incident under full control." Shift worker Patrick Jones, who clocked off his shift just over three hours before the blast, said: "I am still worried about my mates. There are four of them that are still missing."
Shift worker Patrick Jones was "absolutely gutted" to hear about the explosion after he clocked off his shift at the firm at 06:00 BST. He said: "I am still worried about my mates. There are four of them that are still missing."
Avoid the area
He said he was not able to get through the cordon.He said he was not able to get through the cordon.
Cheshire East Council has asked people to avoid the Tunstall Road area of Bosley.
Police said smoke is drifting north east, with residents 15 miles away in Wildboarclough 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 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."
At the sceneAt the scene
BBC Radio Manchester reporter Jonathan AliBBC Radio Manchester reporter Jonathan Ali
Six hours later, the smoke plume is still hanging over this factory.Six hours later, the smoke plume is still hanging over this factory.
I'm looking from about 300m across open fields, with cows lying placidly in the grass.I'm looking from about 300m across open fields, with cows lying placidly in the grass.
At around 14:40 there was the brief sound of popping noises as things continued to explode.At around 14:40 there was the brief sound of popping noises as things continued to explode.
This was a four-storey factory, which in the words of the fire service, has now collapsed to one storey.This was a four-storey factory, which in the words of the fire service, has now collapsed to one storey.
Basically it has collapsed in on itself and there is now a major rescue operation under way.Basically it has collapsed in on itself and there is now a major rescue operation under way.
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.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.
"The explosion shook the whole house rattling windows and doors, just like an earthquake."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.""The black and grey smoke plummeted up along with flames and has engulfed the valley below."
Electricity North West said power was cut to 165 homes in Bosley to "allow firefighters to carry out their work safely". Electricity North West said power was cut to 165 homes in Bosley to "allow firefighters to carry out their work safely". Power has since returned to the majority of homes.
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."
It emerged that firefighters tackled another blaze at the wood flour mill in 2012. A blaze broke out at the wood flour mill in 2012.
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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