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Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol
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Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol

Police declare major incident following explosion involving chemical tanks

International

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.

It is believed the five people were all working on top of or near a silo that contained biosolids – solid matter recovered in sewage treatment processes and turned into organic soil conditioner. A rescue operation involving urban search and rescue teams, tracker dogs and helicopters was launched following the explosion at the Wessex Water site in Avonmouth.

Avon and Somerset police confirmed on Thursday evening that everyone had been accounted for and reassured people living nearby that there was not believed to be any further danger to the public. They said they did not believe the incident was terror-related and agencies including the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) would be involved in the investigation.