KILLER BLAST Avonmouth victim blown 500ft into lake from chemical tank which exploded ‘like bomb’ as sniffer dogs searched for bodies
ONE of the four people killed when a chemical tank exploded "like a bomb" was hurled 500ft into a lake, it was revealed today.
Sniffer dogs had to be called in to search for bodies as cops declared a major incident after the tragedy at the Wessex Water site in Avonmouth, near Bristol, on Thursday morning.
The explosion, involving one of the chemical tanks at the sewage processing plant, was described as like "a bomb".
An eyewitness said of the victims: "They didn’t stand a chance.”
And a source today told The Times: "A silo blew up as the men were working on it.
"They have been looking for the bodies and found one 150 metres away in a lake. There are four dead and one injured who could walk away from the scene.”
It's understood the victims included three Wessex Water employees and one contractor.
One man's body was found in the lake while the other three victims were reportedly found close to the wrecked chemical tank.
A fifth person involved in the blast did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Emergency services raced to the plant in Kings Weston Lane at 11.20am after the blast 'rattled windows' of businesses half a mile away.
One eyewitness, who works nearby, said: “I thought a bomb had gone off. It was terrifying.
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for those guys working on the tank. They didn’t stand a chance."
Kieran Jenkins, who works nearby, added he saw people “running” from the site.
He said: “I heard a bang, we didn’t know what was going on.
“We were inside the warehouse, the whole warehouse was shaking."
Another witness heard "a sort of a boom and echo and then it just went quiet."
Following Thursday's tragedy, Boris Johnson tweeted: "Deeply saddened to learn that four people have lost their lives in the water works explosion in Avonmouth.
"Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
"Thank you to the emergency services who attended the scene."
Fire crews were among the emergency response while a second helicopter was reportedly searching overhead for the victims.
Heat-seeking cameras and sniffer dogs were also called in to search for survivors.
Specialist teams from as far away as Devon were called to search the site after the blast buckled the roof of the silo.
It was initially feared others were missing in the wreckage but it is not believed there will be any further casualties.
Police have launched a probe with agencies including the Health and Safety Executive. They say the incident isn't terror-related.
People working nearby have told of the moment they heard the blast.
One person working around half a mile away said: "All our windows rattled."
Another said: "My better half is working in Avonmouth and their entire building rumbled and shook from it."
And another man who was nearby said: "I was at work when the blast in happened.
"We were only about 900 metres as the crow flies across some open land.
"Shockwave shook the building, the shutter door made the strangest noise I've ever heard."
In an update on Thursday afternoon, Chief Inspector Mark Runacres, of Avon and Somerset Police, said cops have declared a major incident after the incident at the area's largest sewage treatment works.
“Officers remain at the scene and are likely to be for some time as we work together with other agencies in dealing with this major incident," he said.
“A cordon has been set up and we’d advise members of the public to avoid the area at this time where possible to allow the emergency services to carry out their work.
MAJOR INCIDENT DECLARED
“Police enquiries into exactly what happened are at a very early stage and are continuing.”
Avon Fire and Rescue Service area manager Matt Peskett said: "We have been called to a large explosion at 11.22am in a warehouse in Avonmouth.
“Crews from Avonmouth, Southmead, Yate, Patchway, Hicks Gate, Kingswood, Weston-super-Mare and Temple were mobilised and attended the incident.
“We were joined at the scene by our police and ambulance colleagues and have now handed over the incident to the police and continue to support our multi-agency partners.”
Wessex Water Chief Executive Colin Skellett said: “We are absolutely devastated that the tragic incident at our site earlier has resulted in four fatalities.
“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of those involved. We are working with the Health and Safety Executive to understand what happened and why.”
Officials at Bristol City Council said: "We would like to reassure the public there is not believed to be any ongoing public safety concerns following the major incident at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre in Avonmouth."
Bristol MP Darren Jones said it's the second serious incident in Avonmouth "in as many weeks" after firefighters tackled a 20,000 tonne metal recycling plant blaze.
"Once our emergency services have resolved this incident and helped any injured workers, I’ll be calling on the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive and others to ensure lessons are being learnt for the future," he said.
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