UK News. Skellett said Wessex Water was working to understand what happened and why. ET.) News Large explosion at Bristol wastewater facility in England. Deeply saddened to learn that four people have lost their lives in the water works explosion in Avonmouth. Investigations are continuing into what caused an explosion at a waste water treatment works that killed four people. IE 11 is not supported. Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, said it was "the most tragic case in many generations" to have happened at Avonmouth. Police officers attend the scene of a "large" explosion, near Bristol, England, on Thursday. According to Wessex Water, during the sewage treatment process debris is first removed using screens. The explosion happened in a silo that holds treated biosolids before they are recycled to land as an organic soil conditioner, Runacres said. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. "This has already been such a challenging year, and this news of further loss of life is another terrible blow. News. Saphora Smith is a London-based reporter for NBC News Digital. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "One was on site and nearby and witnessed much of what took place, but he is safe and well," he said. As a city we will mourn for them," he added. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also offered his condolences, tweeting that he was "deeply saddened" to learn of the four deaths. Did you witness what happened? Avonmouth explosion: What happened in the Bristol water plant blast that left four dead – everything we know Three employees of Wessex Water and a … "Whilst the cause of this tragedy is not yet known, it is essential that a full and thorough investigation takes place at the appropriate time.". Ch Insp Mark Runacres, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the explosion was not being treated as terror-related and there were not thought to be any ongoing public safety concerns. Emergency services have been called to an apparent explosion at a house in Bristol. Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol. Wessex Water Chief Executive Colin Skellett said in a statement put out by the police that "we are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site earlier today has resulted in four fatalities.". The victims were said to have been standing on top of a silo at a site owned by Wessex Water in Avonmouth, near Bristol, when a blast ripped through it at … Three of the people who died worked for the plant, and the other was a contractor. Three of the deceased were employees of Wessex Water and one was a contractor, Chief Inspector Mark Runacres of Avon and Somerset Police said in a press conference. Read about our approach to external linking. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics. Four people have died and another has been injured in a large explosion at a waste water treatment works. The sewage is then treated biologically with bacteria that clean the water. 0 bristolpost.co.uk • 18 minutes ago. A fifth person was injured but is not believed to be in a life threatening condition, said Chief Inspector Mark Runacres of Avon and Somerset Police. Avon Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to reports of the blast in Avonmouth, near Bristol … Sort of a boom and echo and then it just went quiet. Bristol City Mayor Marvin Rees, said that the thoughts of the city were with the families of the deceased at this "heart-breaking time.". South Western Ambulance Service said it was responding to a “serious incident”. The sewage flows into tanks where the solids sink to the bottom and are removed as sludge. new Bristol festivals confirmed for 2021 include Love Saves the Day, Pride and Friends Fest . Luke Wheaton died in an explosion in Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police earlier declared the explosion a "major incident" and said it was believed to have involved one of the chemical tanks at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling center in Avonmouth, a port and outer suburb of the city of Bristol on the Severn Estuary. Four people have died following an explosion at a waste water treatment works in Bristol, police have confirmed. Avon Fire and Rescue Service initially said in a statement that they were called to a large explosion in a warehouse in Avonmouth at 11:22 a.m. local time (6:22 a.m. The explosion happened at 11:20 GMT in a silo that held treated biosolids. … Avon Fire and Rescue said its crews were called to a fire around 7.50pm at Whitchurch Lane in … A spokeswoman for the service later told NBC News that the site was a water waste treatment works. A spokeswoman for the police earlier told NBC News that a national police air service helicopter and a police drone were used in the operation, as well as fire and police crews on the ground. Morning after reveals destruction wrought by explosion An explosion has destroyed a house in southern Bristol suburb. Emergency crews are dealing with a large explosion at a warehouse in Avonmouth, near Bristol. He added he will be calling the HSE, the Environment Agency and others "to ensure that lessons are being learnt so that these situations that shouldn't happen in first place don't happen again". You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Biosolids can produce flammable methane gas when treated with bacteria, though police could not comment as to whether this was the cause of the explosion. Biosolids are "treated sludge" - a by-product of the sewage treatment process. Bristol-based waste management service GENeco says biosolids provide a "cost-effective alternative to bagged fertiliser". Bristol City Mayor Marvin Rees said the "thoughts of our city" were with the families of those who had died. Latest breaking news and updates from Bristol and around the UK, with pictures, video, live blogs and more. A building near Bristol, where fire crews, police and paramedics responded to a "large" explosion. Firefighters were called to Wessex Water's premises in Avonmouth, Bristol… Police officers have today been working alongside colleagues in the fire and ambulance services following a major incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol … Sniffer dogs had to be called in to search for bodies as c… Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. A rescue operation was subsequently led by the fire service, police said. There was no smoke, there was no after-effects of it.". Emergency services rushed to the waste water treatment works yesterday morning (December 3) following an explosion. Wessex Water said it was "absolutely devastated" and was working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, tweeted: "My family and I are keeping those affected in our thoughts and prayers, following the tragic consequences of the explosion in Avonmouth today. Runacres said the search of the site was now complete and that police believe everyone has been accounted for. The father of a teenage boy who died in the sewage works explosion has paid tribute to his son – with a picture of him in a Wessex Water hard hat. Four people have died and another has been injured in a large explosion at a waste water treatment works. The father of a teenage boy who died in the sewage works explosion has paid tribute to his son – with a picture of him in a Wessex Water hard hat. He declined to speculate on the cause of the explosion and said a full investigation into the incident will be conducted. Witness tells of last moments of George Floyd's life at the trial of the officer accused of killing him. Four people died following an explosion in a silo that holds treated biosolids at a waste water treatment plant near the southwest England city of Bristol, police said Thursday. He said the explosion was not being treated as a terrorist incident and police believed there was no further risk to members of the public. Four people have been killed and one person injured after an explosion at a wastewater treatment plant in Bristol that could be heard more than a mile away. Please rate this website. A building near Bristol, where fire crews, police and paramedics responded to a "large" explosion. Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, tweeted: “My family and I are keeping those affected in our thoughts and prayers, following the tragic consequences of the explosion in Avonmouth today. The area around the damaged property has been cordoned off Three people have been injured after flats were damaged in what is reported to have been an explosion. GMB, the union for Wessex Water workers, has sent "hopes and prayers" to the colleagues and families of the four people killed. Three employees of Wessex Water … A fifth injured person is not thought to be in a life-threatening condition. LONDON — Four people have died and another was injured after a large explosion took place at a water recycling center in southwestern England, local police said Thursday. Luke Wheaton died in an explosion in Bristol. Bristol Waste, which runs the Avonmouth recycling center, said it had closed the center due to an incident at a nearby site but did not give further details. Four people have been killed in a large explosion at a water treatment works near Bristol. 'Use of force by police unattractive but necessary' Video, 'Use of force by police unattractive but necessary', 'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too' Video, 'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too', Covid: 'We need a memorial to remember' Video, Nike sues Lil Nas X over blood-filled 'Satan Shoes', Suez Canal reopens after stranded ship is freed, New charges filed against Ghislaine Maxwell, Baby tortoises wrapped in plastic found in suitcase, Cotton ban is self-defeating, China tells H&M, Mafia fugitive caught through online cooking show, George Floyd 'slowly fading away' during arrest, In pictures: The epic task of refloating Suez ship, US threatens tariffs on UK goods in 'tech tax' row. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Enter your postcode to see news and information near you. ONE of the four people killed when a chemical tank exploded “like a bomb” was hurled 500ft into a lake, it was revealed today. Bristol zoo to leave its city site after 185 years amid Covid crisis . Emergency crew rushed to the scene at the Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in … "That was it. Bristol riots: Police release more images of people they want to trace after 25 arrests, Bristol riots: 13 more people police want to identify, Ward profiles 2021: Cotham – ‘We’re a good balance of people who seem to get on okay’, Debbonaire: ‘There is no excuse for this violence’, 'Showcase' year awaits Grand Pier Retail Carrington Walker person Staff at the Grand Pier have revealed this year will be a chance 'to showcase Weston' with its partial reopening tomorrow (Tuesday). The Avon Fire and Rescue Service said it was called at 11.22am (10.22pm AEDT) to a large explosion at the warehouse in the industrial area of Avonmouth located near Bristol, which is about 195km west of London. News. Colin Skellett, chief executive of Wessex Water, said the company was working with the HSE "to understand what happened and why". LONDON -- Four people died following an explosion in a silo that holds treated biosolids at a wastewater treatment plant near the southwest England city of Bristol, police said Thursday. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Firefighters were called to Wessex Water's premises in … John Phillips, GMB regional secretary, said it was a "terrible tragedy". Read about our approach to external linking. © 2021 BBC. A 16-year-old boy was one of four people killed in an explosion at a waste-water treatment works near Bristol on Thursday, it has been revealed. Wessex Water says the sludge is treated in anaerobic digesters - oxygen-free tanks - to produce agricultural fertiliser and renewable energy. Thank you to the emergency services who attended the scene. Unite regional secretary for the south west Steve Preddy said three of its members working at the site were in a "state of shock". Explosion at port near Bristol as 'serious incident' declared. Firefighters were called to Wessex Water's premises in Avonmouth, Bristol… Investigations are continuing into what caused an explosion at a waste water treatment works that killed four people. Are you in the area? The seaside attraction has been closed for most of the p, Appeal to find missing woman with Weston links Jacqueline Cadogan, Information about BBC links to other news sites, Court hears of last moments in George Floyd's life. The fifth person's injuries are not believed to be life threatening, he added. The injured person's condition is not life threatening. Bristol. 'Use of force by police unattractive but necessary' Video'Use of force by police unattractive but necessary', CDC head warns of Covid 'impending doom' in US, George Floyd: All you need to know as police trial begins, 'It is so easy to choose what voluntary work to do', 'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too' Video'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too', Covid: 'We need a memorial to remember' VideoCovid: 'We need a memorial to remember', The Netflix show putting the spotlight on menopause, The utopian social experiment hidden in a remote island. Invalid Date, ONE of the four people killed when a chemical tank exploded "like a bomb" was hurled 500ft into a lake, it was revealed today. "We have been in touch personally with our other members too, who are thankfully all safe and well, but obviously deeply disturbed and emotionally upset by what has happened.". Follow the latest news for Bristol in Bristol, England, UK - Local news and information in your area. One witness to the aftermath described hearing a "boom and echo" which shook the ground, followed by "a lot of commotion". Emergency services attend to a large explosion at a warehouse in Bristol, England, Thursday Dec. 3, 2020. There have been multiple casualties following a large explosion at a sewage plant in Avonmouth, near Bristol. A ‘large explosion’ at a water treatment centre has caused ‘multiple’ casualties. Bristol. In 1996, Avonmouth was the setting of another large explosion when a tanker containing what was believed to be epichlorohydrin began to offload at the Albright & Wilson site. The police earlier said in a statement that fire, ambulance and police services were called to the site of a large explosion at around 11:20 a.m. local time (6:20 a.m. Fire crews described a "very challenging" scene and used search and rescue dogs in the hunt for casualties following the blast. Sean Nolan said: "It was quite short-lived, I'd say about two or three seconds. ET). CDC head warns of Covid 'impending doom' in US1, Nike sues Lil Nas X over blood-filled 'Satan Shoes'2, Suez Canal reopens after stranded ship is freed3, New charges filed against Ghislaine Maxwell4, Baby tortoises wrapped in plastic found in suitcase5, Cotton ban is self-defeating, China tells H&M6, Mafia fugitive caught through online cooking show7, George Floyd 'slowly fading away' during arrest8, In pictures: The epic task of refloating Suez ship9, US threatens tariffs on UK goods in 'tech tax' row10. Fire crews were called at 11.20am and have confirmed there have been “casualties”, The Bristol Post reports. "This is another stark reminder of the absolute need to ensure people are able to work in environments where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled," he said. Dec. 3, 2020, 2:20 PM UTC. Three employees of Wessex Water and a contractor were killed in the blast at a water recycling centre in Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth, on Thursday. @jawadburhan98 / AP. 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