(Updated) BREAKING NEWS: Massive Series of Explosions rock Southern England

Sky News UK ^ | December 11, 2005

[Big Bad Bob]

Reports of up to Four Explosions at a fuel depot Near Hemel Hempstead, North West of London, according to Sky

__________________

Update:

Explosion Near London


The first picture, taken by a Sky News viewer

Map of the area

Updated: 06:41, Sunday December 11, 2005

There has been a large explosion followed by two smaller blasts in the St Albans area, around 25 miles north of London.

Sky Correspondent Sky Meade has said he can see flames about 200ft in the sky and there appears to be burning fuel.

Speaking by telephone from his home, Meade described "burning tongues" of flames in the sky.

The first blast happened at 6.03am - the other explosions followed about 20 minutes later.

Meade, a seasoned war reporter said he can see what looks like "burning aviation fuel".

"This fire is extremely intense. It is a bright orange glow on the horizon," he said.

Witnesses have told Sky News they heard the blast near Junction 8 of the M1. It is thought to be centred around Bunsfield fuel depot, near Hemel Hempstead.

The blast was felt at Sky Centre - more than 20 miles away in west London.

It was so powerful it blew out the windows at a hotel in Hemel Hempstead. There are reports of injuries there.

And one witness has told how the explosion shook his mother's house and lifted the roof.

Witnesses have told Sky News that emergency services are converging on the area.

Sky News producer Anwar Tambe heard the blast from his home in Luton and is currently stuck in traffic on the M1.

He said blasts are "going off regularly" and debris has blown onto the motorway.

More follows...

[Canard]

Answer to question from journalist: too early to confirm what may have caused initial explosion.

[Hadean]

You're welcome!

[Ingtar]

They are telling anyone that is near the smoke and has windows out to leave for somewhere safer. (Per the news conference.) Perhaps they should take their cuppa on the road?

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Giving out the number for NHS direct for any health concerns. I guess they'll get back to them in six months.

[Berlin_Freeper]

I have been watching this on SKY NEWS with my wife and I remarked to her as it occurred to me that about 2 months ago I was watching SKY NEWS and as they were just breaking away for commercials they said they had video of a tornado in the US (which if I remember correctly had killed 3 people) and when they return they will be showing. Except this is how they put it... "And when we return, we have video of when nature strikes back!" as they showed a small clip of the video.

So it occurred to me watching the SKY NEWS coverage that if I has a news channel and followed their example of coverage, I would present this as... "and when we return, we have video of when the forces of laziness, ignorance and doing things on the cheap, strike back!"

SKY NEWS is not as bad as the Sexed-Up BBC or CNN International (which is run by people from the BBC) but they still have a typical British anti-US crapheadedness to their views. Another time I was watching and they showed video of an drowned American being lifted out of the sea by a helicopter like a dead fish and I told my wife then that they would never show video of a Brit like that.

My brother who lives in NYC told me he gets SKY NEWS now and that he watches it and i was like "why?". I told him I very rarely watch any news here in Germany because it is all slanted against America and SKY NEWS is not much different.

[Tommyjo]

The definition that is used in the US 'counties' comes from Europe.

[msnimje]

That is what the police said in the presser.

[Canard]

"Did you see post #563?"

563 is just an update on the press conferance. Is that the one you mean?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Duck tape redux.

[BunnySlippers]

Answer to question from journalist: too early to confirm what may have caused initial explosion.

Well, if they don't know that then how do they know it's an accident?

[kenth]

Good that you're able to talk with her. We'll keep them in our prayers. How close are they?

Heh, I can't imagine sleeping through that. He must be one heck of a sleeper.

[thecabal]

Do not go into the plume of smoke!

LOL, perhaps England's educational system is on par with ours.

[xzins]

No, but it's a good post...glad they're ok.

How long will a real assessment take do you think....a week?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Our son's friend slept through a 7.1 practically under his house.

He's a strange kid. 8~)

[Canard]

They haven't said they 'know' it's an accident, that's what I said before. They've said they've no evidence that it isn't an accident and they are treating it as an accident at this time.

[msnimje]

Freeper Canard said it was a "no-brainer" so maybe they said it for the people without brains.

[xzins]

Let's just hope that FoxNews doesn't send Hysterical Shep to report.

He'll broadcast a few blown up homes and finger SPECTRE as the prime suspect as he cries and screams uncontrollably.

[Canard]

"Freeper Canard said it was a "no-brainer" so maybe they said it for the people without brains."

Hmm, I wonder what would happen if I put my head into this plume of smoke... ;)

[janetjanet998]

Presser
Q. how long will the fire last
A. could go on for days

[AmeriBrit]

It's my daughter and son-in-law that's there. I'm sitting worrying myself to death in California. From the damage she talked about it sounded just like we've experienced from earthquakes.
Last message said there's a sickly smell mixed with smoke. I have no idea what that could be.