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Fire rips through TaTa Steel Plant Port Talbot Following Multiple Blasts

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trainmania100

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Concerned mostly at the part where it says the explosion was from a train carrying molten steel

Two people have suffered injuries after a series of explosions rocked the UK’s largest steelworks causing fire to break out. Locals reported their houses shook with the force of a blasts at the Tata Steel site in Port Talbot in the early hours of this morning. Several bright flashes could be seen in video purported to be of the incident shared online. Emergency services including paramedics and firefighters rushed to the complex after 999 calls began to stream in at around 3.35am. One local resident tweeted: ‘There was just a big explosion from port Talbot steelworks that just shook the house, hoping no one was hurt.’ This is the moment an explosion happened at Tata Steelworks, Port Talbot Play Video Loaded: 0%Progress: 0% PlayMute Current Time 0:00 / Duration Time 0:20 Fullscreen A huge plume of smoke was seen rising over the plant in south Wales this morning (Picture: Twitter/Gareth__Taylor) Someone living nearby described hearing three explosions Another described ‘apocalyptic scenes’ adding: ‘I hope from whatever has happened at the Steel Works Port Talbot, that everyone is okay.’ South Wales Police said two people had suffered minor injuries in the incident and urged locals to avoid the area. Early indications suggested the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, the force said. ‘Emergency services remain on scene but we have had confirmation that all members of staff are accounted for and there are only two casualties with minor injuries. ‘Early indications are that the seat of the explosion was a train which carries molten metal into the works. ‘The explosion caused some small fires which are all under control and damage to some buildings on the site. ‘South West Fire and Rescue Service have informed us there is no need for concerns re hazardous effects from the smoke from the fire.’ Early indications suggested the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, the force said (Picture: Getty) Tata Steel said its personnel were working with emergency services at the scene. ‘We can confirm there are no serious injuries and all employees have been accounted for. All fires are now under control,’ the company tweeted. The National Police Air Service’s St Athan wing confirmed a helicopter had been scrambled to the scene. ‘Attended large series of explosions at @TataSteelEurope £PortTalbot,’ the ‘Tata has now confirmed there are no serious injuries and all employees have been accounted for. All fires now under control. Excellent multi agency response from @swpolice @SWFireandRescue @SWPPortTalbot’ Share this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via whatsapp Share this article via facebook


Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/26/thre...rk-fire-tata-steel-plant-9321424/?ito=cbshare

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
 
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Pete_uk

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I'm hearing on the radio that a 'train carrying molten metal has exploded injuring two people'

I'm assuming that this would be a internal works shunter type train and not a 66 that's come from somewhere else.
 

bluraycinema

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Just seen it on BBC news.

Big explosion @ 3.30 am, seen on CCTV.

Train used to transport molten metal.

Fire out and all accounted for.
 

Phil from Mon

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Full story is on BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48062141

Thankfully only two hurt, and not seriously.

Two people have been hurt in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK.
Residents living near the Port Talbot plant spoke of hearing a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST.
Images posted on social media show flames at the site and plumes of smoke rising above the plant.
Tata Steel said the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, but the fires were now out and all employees had been accounted for.
The firm posted on Twitter: "We can confirm two of our employees were slightly injured when there was a spillage of liquid iron while it was travelling to the steel plant.
"All fires have now been extinguished. A full investigation has begun."
The steel firm said the site had reopened by 07:00 and it was assessing any damage.

Lance Davies, who lives at the highest point in the town, said it was a "miracle" no-one was killed.
"I was woken up this morning by what sounded like thunder, I went to the window and could see the results of the first explosion, then I called my partner and saw the other two," he added.
"That was all you could see - it was like a scene from Independence Day - a big ball of flame, followed by a massive mushroom of smoke. It was unbelievable."
Sharon Freeguard, a Neath Port Talbot councillor, said: "I thought I heard about two to three explosions. It was extremely frightening and very, very scary.
"The house just shook, so it was quite alarming. Once it was over, I did wonder what it was and just did think about the works.
"We're just all relieved that there are no fatalities."
'The house shook'
Local resident Craig Williams told the BBC he heard "an almighty bang".
"It's very unusual to hear something of that magnitude," he said.
"It was just a huge bang. The house shook a little. It's not something we are accustomed to."
Mr Williams said Port Talbot "revolves around this plant" and it helps to "bring the community together".
The steelworks is the largest in the UK and employs more than 4,000 people.
Helicopters were circling overhead and South Wales Police said it received "numerous calls" shortly after 03:30 "reporting an explosion".
South Wales Police said: "The explosion caused some small fires which are all under control and damage to some buildings on the site."
The force added that there was no need for concern about hazardous effects from the smoke.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters remained at the scene, but it was starting to reduce the number of crews on site.
The explosion was heard as far away as Bridgend, 14 miles (22km) from the blast, and the National Police Air Service's St Athan wing confirmed a helicopter had been scrambled to the scene.
Aberavon MP Stephen Kinnock said the incident "raises real concerns about safety at the works".
"It could have been a lot worse. Grateful as always to the emergency services for their rapid and effective response," he wrote on Twitter.
"Tata Steel Europe must conduct a full review, to improve safety."
At the scene - BBC reporter Will Fyfe
"I'm stood just very close to one of the main entrances to the plant and actually everything so far seems to be business as normal this morning.
"There's the normal traffic - shift workers coming in and out.
"The activity this morning really is in stark contrast some of the very dramatic photographs and footage - and some of those eyewitness accounts that talk about an explosion that was so loud it had blown bedroom doors open of some of the houses of people living nearby."
 

Darandio

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Molten metal can't be removed by train. I don't understand?

Do you mean moved? Molten metal is moved around steel production sites by train in several locations. Was always quite a sight if you caught it at night as they crossed a bridge over the line near British Steel Redcar.
 
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krus_aragon

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From the BBC:
Two people have been hurt in an early hours explosion at Tata's biggest steelworks plant in the UK.

Residents living near the Port Talbot plant spoke of hearing a "massive" blast shortly after 03:30 BST.

Images posted on social media show flames at the site and plumes of smoke rising above the plant.

Tata Steel said the explosion came from a train used to carry molten metal, but the fires were now out and all employees had been accounted for.
Full article at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48062141

There's no indication what caused the explosion on the train, though.


Edit: existing thread at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/port-talbot-train-explosion.181747/
 

HSTEd

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It's a reminder that handling molten metal by the kiloton is an inherently risky business
 

Jan

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Elecman

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Molten metal and water do not mix it ends in a superheated steam explosion that splashes the molten metal in all directions often causing secondary explosions when the expelled metal hits anything else that’s damp
 
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