Two drivers die in fireball after petrol tankers collide

TWO people have died after a major explosion at an oil refinery in Wales, it was reported last night.

It is understood that two petrol tankers collided inside the refinery, killing both the drivers.

Fire crews were called to the blaze at Chevron, Pembroke Dock, shortly before 6:30pm.

A spokeswoman for Mid and West Wales Fire Service said ten fire engines from across the area were sent to the scene.

She said that the fire had completely destroyed a tank, and that there had been an explosion and damage to an adjacent tank.

Crews initially extinguished the blaze, but then set about cooling the plant to prevent any further explosions.

Three ambulances and the Welsh air ambulance were also sent to the site, which specialises in processing lower quality crude oil.

Following the explosion, a pall of black smoke could be seen rising above the sprawling refinery complex.

Reports said that witnesses had seen a fireball and smoke at the refinery.

Phil Horne was in his back garden in Milford Haven, on the opposite side of the waterway, at the time of the incident.

"I heard a large explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky," he said.

"It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery."

Marcus Lutwyche, owner of a shop in the village of Angle, said: "I ran to the front and saw a huge plume of smoke. It was black and filled the sky. It must have been 50 or so metres wide."

His wife Joanne Lutwyche, said: "It is incredible - we are concerned that a couple of people have been killed.

"Quite a few people in the village work at Chevron and would have been changing shifts when the explosion happened, so everyone's really concerned for who might be involved.

"The last time something like this happened must have been about 17 years ago."

Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air".

A spokesman for Chevron said of the incident: "Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene.

"The fire has been extinguished.

"We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel."

Morriston Hospital in Swansea said one man had been brought there but no information was available about his condition.

The hospital launched a Major Incident Plan to prepare to accept casualties, but this was stood down at 8:20pm.

A previous explosion and subsequent fire had also closed the plant in July 1994.

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed that paramedics had dealt with casualties at the scene and the air ambulance was deployed

Earlier this year the sale of the refinery, which is one of the largest in Western Europe and employs 1,400 people, was secured.

Valero has bought the site for 458 million and paid another 611m for assets, including Chevron's petrol stations.

Faulty gauge triggered blaze that lasted 5 days

THE UK witnessed its single biggest fuel fire in December 2005 at the Buncefield oil storage facility in Hertfordshire following a series of explosions.

The blaze, which burned for five days, injuring 43 people and forcing a mass evacuation of the surrounding area, has been described as the biggest of its kind in peacetime Europe. A report on the fire later blamed a broken safety gauge, which failed to record any change in the volume of petrol in a storage tank.

When the tank reached capacity, 300 tons of petrol spilt, forming a vapour cloud which resulted in a series of explosions

Craig Brown