BBC 3 June 2011 at 17:47
An investigation is under way after four contractors were killed in an explosion and fire at a Pembrokeshire oil refinery. The family of one victim have confirmed to the BBC that she was Julie Jones, a 55-year-old fire guard. Another worker is critically ill but stable with burns after Thursday's blast at Chevron's Pembroke plant. All those killed and injured were from Pembrokeshire, and specialist teams are recovering the bodies.
Dyfed-Powys Police said that would be a "slow and methodical process".
Chevron said the explosion happened during routine maintenance of one of its 730 cubic metre storage tanks at 1820 BST on Thursday. Non-essential work was suspended on Friday.
Chevron said it had launched its own investigation, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with one storage tank destroyed and another damaged in the incident.
Production was able to continue but the company had decided to suspend all non-essential work on Friday.
A spokeswoman said Chevron was a "close family" and counselling was being offered to the 1,400-strong workforce.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the bodies would remain at the scene and identification would be protracted because of the severity of the accident. Their recovery is being made more difficulty by the unstable nature of the building.
Chief Supt Dean Richards said: "Early indications suggest that this is a tragic industrial incident.
"Sadly four people have lost their lives, and a fifth person remains in hospital, critically ill.
"We are not currently in a position to release the names of the victims, as they have not yet been formally identified, and this process may take some time."
Five Mid and West Wales fire crews had joined the refinery's own fire fighters in tackling the blaze, while specialist fire units, including foam vehicles and a chemical incident unit were sent to the scene.
The tank at the centre of the incident contained a component which refiners "routinely used," said a Chevron spokeswoman. It had been left "out of action," while another tank was damaged.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies said there was no ongoing risk to health to members of the public as a result of the incident.
"We can confirm that any material released into the atmosphere as a result of the blast was immediately dispersed. The wind was blowing off shore, away from residential areas," he said.
The Health and Safety Executive said it was too early speculate about the cause of the blast.
Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air" shortly after 1820 BST.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 engines to the scene and brought the incident under control within an hour and a half.
Wales Air Ambulance said a man had been airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with severe burns.
An investigation is under way after four contractors were killed in an explosion and fire at a Pembrokeshire oil refinery. The family of one victim have confirmed to the BBC that she was Julie Jones, a 55-year-old fire guard. Another worker is critically ill but stable with burns after Thursday's blast at Chevron's Pembroke plant. All those killed and injured were from Pembrokeshire, and specialist teams are recovering the bodies.
Dyfed-Powys Police said that would be a "slow and methodical process".
Chevron said the explosion happened during routine maintenance of one of its 730 cubic metre storage tanks at 1820 BST on Thursday. Non-essential work was suspended on Friday.
Chevron said it had launched its own investigation, alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) with one storage tank destroyed and another damaged in the incident.
Production was able to continue but the company had decided to suspend all non-essential work on Friday.
A spokeswoman said Chevron was a "close family" and counselling was being offered to the 1,400-strong workforce.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the bodies would remain at the scene and identification would be protracted because of the severity of the accident. Their recovery is being made more difficulty by the unstable nature of the building.
Chief Supt Dean Richards said: "Early indications suggest that this is a tragic industrial incident.
"Sadly four people have lost their lives, and a fifth person remains in hospital, critically ill.
"We are not currently in a position to release the names of the victims, as they have not yet been formally identified, and this process may take some time."
Five Mid and West Wales fire crews had joined the refinery's own fire fighters in tackling the blaze, while specialist fire units, including foam vehicles and a chemical incident unit were sent to the scene.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies said there was no ongoing risk to health to members of the public as a result of the incident.
"We can confirm that any material released into the atmosphere as a result of the blast was immediately dispersed. The wind was blowing off shore, away from residential areas," he said.
The Health and Safety Executive said it was too early speculate about the cause of the blast.
Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air" shortly after 1820 BST.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 engines to the scene and brought the incident under control within an hour and a half.
Wales Air Ambulance said a man had been airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea with severe burns.
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