Four workers were killed and a fifth person was injured on Thursday when a water treatment facility on the outskirts of Bristol, in England, exploded, emergency services have informed Reuters.
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres of Avon and Somerset Police told reporters outside the site in Avonmouth in southwest England told the media that “Sadly, despite the best efforts of all those involved, we can confirm that there have been four fatalities.”
Three of the people fatally injured worked for Wessex Water, the entity that operates the water plant, while the fourth was a contractor. According to Reuters, the person injured is not in a life-threatening condition.
The local police has ruled out a terrorism connection and assured residents living near the plant that there is no ongoing threat. Emergency services have already contacted the families of the victims.
The Chief Inspector added that the Government health and safety officials would conduct an investigation into the exact cause of the large blast. According to the ongoing investigations, the explosion took place in a silo containing what Runacres called “treated biosolids” intended for use as fertiliser.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement on social media that he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the deaths and thanked emergency services for their response.
