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Kent oil tank explosion brings evacuation

30/03/2007

An explosion at an engineering firm in Kent has led to a major evacuation operation.

One person was taken to hospital as a result of the blast, which occurred at about 09:30 BST this morning at the Kingsnorth industrial estate on the Hoo peninsula.

Kent police said that local businesses in the area have been evacuated after an oil tank exploded causing a fire.

A cordon has been set up around the scene of the fire and, "as a precautionary measure", local people have been told to stay in their homes and close all doors and windows.

"The industrial estate has been evacuated and everyone who was working there and at the engineering firm where the explosion happened has been accounted for," a police spokesperson said.

"South-east coast ambulance trust took one man to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. Kent fire and rescue Service say the fire is now surrounded and fifteen fire appliances are at the scene."

It is not yet known what caused the explosion, police said, but the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

Local road closures have been implemented and a 200-metre exclusion zone has been set up.

The Hoo peninsula straddles the Thames and Medway river estuaries and is the home to many local centres of industry, including the two power stations Grain and Kingsnorth.

The Kingsnorth estate is located on the south of the peninsula, north-east of Rochester.

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