View Full Version : Blasts in UK fuel depot
Marcellus
12-11-2005, 13:37
Massive explosions hit fuel depot
Large explosions have rocked a fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire shooting flames hundreds of feet into the sky.
Police say there are 36 casualties, with two people seriously hurt.
The first blast happened at 0603 GMT at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to junction 8 of the M1 motorway and was heard as far away as the Netherlands.
The fire, which police believe was caused by an accident, could last days with more explosions expected.
The area around the site has been evacuated, while police have advised residents living nearby to keep their windows and doors closed because of fumes.
Police said the thick cloud of smoke was heading east, but was not thought to be toxic.
Earlier rumours a plane was involved in the incident were unfounded, said a police spokesman.
Witnesses said another two explosions followed the first at 0626 GMT and 0627 GMT.
The depot provides fuel for airports across the South East
In total, 20 petrol tanks are involved in the fire, each said to hold three million gallons of fuel.
Hertfordshire's chief fire officer Roy Wilsher said it was the largest fire he had ever witnessed.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4517962.stm
http://us.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/12/11/britain.blasts/index.html
Well, at least it seems to be an accident. Whatever did cause it needs to be found out fast though, so that this can't happen again.
My dad was woken up by the sound of the explosion this morning (I slept right through, being a teenager). When, I woke up, I could the sky was overcast by the smoke. Even now there's a strong smell of petrol in the air. We live about 20 miles away from the depot.
There are no confirmed fatalities as I write.
Ianofsmeg16
12-11-2005, 15:25
I was just watching an ITV news bulletin and it said that some maintenance was being performed, which was what caused the accident and about 36 people have been killed
Mouzafphaerre
12-11-2005, 15:28
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I stumbled upon this on CNN zapping. Thankfully no dead.
Something similar happened a few years ago in İzmit, TR
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Templar Knight
12-11-2005, 16:34
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41110000/jpg/_41110074_smoke310.jpg
eerie
Mouzafphaerre
12-11-2005, 16:41
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41110000/jpg/_41110074_smoke310.jpg
eerie
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Ironically beautiful, isn't it?
.
Templar Knight
12-11-2005, 16:44
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Ironically beautiful, isn't it?
.
sure is
Looks like I might get off school due to it. Go toxic fumes!
Today was so dark and eerie with it all floating overhead. There's soot everywhere...
KukriKhan
12-11-2005, 19:40
60 million gallons of jet fuel tossed into the air - that can't be good for lungs.
A good day to stay indoors, my Brit buddies.
The_Doctor
12-11-2005, 23:03
It is heading in the opposite direction to Liverpool. Yeah.
You can see it from space. There where satellite pictures of it on the BBC.
The_Emperor
12-11-2005, 23:37
Saw this on the news, quite spectacular.
Glad there has been no loss of life. Remains to be seen if fuel prices and the economy as a whole get effected.
Teleklos Archelaou
12-11-2005, 23:39
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Ironically beautiful, isn't it?
.
Looks like Mordor's right beyond those trees Mouzafphaerre. :san_grin:
Mouzafphaerre
12-12-2005, 01:13
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~;)
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Marcellus
12-12-2005, 02:17
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/in_pictures_buncefield_fuel_depot_blast/img/1.jpg
It's spreading...to London. Hooray!
The_Doctor
12-12-2005, 10:28
It is like the Black Smoke from War of the Worlds.
English assassin
12-12-2005, 11:44
It's spreading...to London. Hooray!
Pah. We eat pollution here in the Smoke, mate, its what makes us so loveable and friendly.
First thoughts - And they want to build nuclear plants?! :san_shocked:
First thoughts - And they want to build nuclear plants?! :san_shocked:
Sounds good. No huge columns of smoke hanging around, this oil economy sucks.
Luckily the wind has changed so it's all sunny here now. Still no school. Bwhaha.
The_Doctor
12-12-2005, 12:59
First thoughts - And they want to build nuclear plants?!
Hideous Mutated Cockneys with Super Cockney Rhyming-Slang Powers.~:eek:
English assassin
12-12-2005, 13:15
Hideous Mutated Cockneys with Super Cockney Rhyming-Slang Powers
Innit, me old china.
Anyway, JAG is right, the industrial revolution was a mistake. Back to watermills.
Myrddraal
12-12-2005, 13:20
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41112000/jpg/_41112398_adam_strudwick.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4518026.stm
The_Doctor
12-12-2005, 13:26
Innit, me old china.
old china=whiner :san_huh:
That is one hell of a picture.:san_shocked:
English assassin
12-12-2005, 13:30
China (plate) = mate.
You have forgotten the first rule of rhyming slang, that you remove the bit that actually makes the rhyme.
The_Doctor
12-12-2005, 13:36
You have forgotten the first rule of rhyming slang, that you remove the bit that actually makes the rhyme.
Forgot. I did not know that in the first place.:san_huh:
Strike For The South
12-12-2005, 14:39
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41112000/jpg/_41112398_adam_strudwick.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4518026.stm
Indpendence day:san_shocked:
InsaneApache
12-12-2005, 15:02
Some close ups...
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5461/fire58jo5su3ld.th.jpg (https://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fire58jo5su3ld.jpg)
https://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7507/fire48to6jk9sx.th.jpg (https://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fire48to6jk9sx.jpg)
Incredible that no one was killed, absolutley awesome.
el_slapper
12-12-2005, 15:22
Impressive.
About nuclear plants : well, it's a good way to avoid this - until we really make new energies working. A transition technology, I'd say.
Hmm, they quoted one guy in the paper this morning, expressing surprise that the exlosion should have been so large. From the catalogue of stores, it was mostly heavy oil goods, stuff that burns, not explodes. anything hear anything simialar? Damn Irish papers, probably making things up again.:san_undecided:
Mouzafphaerre
12-12-2005, 17:42
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41112000/jpg/_41112398_adam_strudwick.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4518026.stm
.
:gah2:
.
Geoffrey S
12-12-2005, 22:25
Makes for some beautiful pictures, that's for sure. At least it's no Enschede.
Another day off school!
I'm going to fail my a levels. The council is failing in its legal obligation to educate me. Lose lose for them!
Ironside
12-13-2005, 10:54
Hmm, they quoted one guy in the paper this morning, expressing surprise that the exlosion should have been so large. From the catalogue of stores, it was mostly heavy oil goods, stuff that burns, not explodes. anything hear anything simialar? Damn Irish papers, probably making things up again.:san_undecided:
Everything that can burn can explode, you only need to confine it until the heat and preassure cause the explosion. Or increase the burning rate somehow.
Gunpowder burns for example.
The only difference between a burning substance and exploding substance is the burning rate BTW.
Oddly enough, this thread contained very goods pics :san_shocked:
Oddly enough, this thread contained very goods pics
I have a couple of fairly dramatic ones on my phone, as soon as I can get near a bluetooth enabled computer I will upload them. Was quite surreal with it all overhead.
Ja'chyra
12-13-2005, 12:09
First thoughts - And they want to build nuclear plants?! :san_shocked:
There's bound to be a connection in there somewhere:san_huh:
English assassin
12-14-2005, 13:51
This news just in: Police have admitted that in fact they could not be bothered to ship George Best's body back to Belfast for burial.
In retrospect, the decision to cremate him in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday morning may have been a mistake...
InsaneApache
12-14-2005, 15:28
This news just in: Police have admitted that in fact they could not be bothered to ship George Best's body back to Belfast for burial.
In retrospect, the decision to cremate him in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday morning may have been a mistake...
ROFL....but wouldn't he burn with a blue flame?....you know like brandy on the Christmas puddding....:san_laugh:
You're both going to hell. :san_laugh:
Geoffrey S
12-14-2005, 19:32
This news just in: Police have admitted that in fact they could not be bothered to ship George Best's body back to Belfast for burial.
In retrospect, the decision to cremate him in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday morning may have been a mistake...
:san_laugh: Really, that produced some rather noisy laughter from me.
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