Firefighters battle 100ft flames at Britain's largest steel plant in Port Talbot after a lightning strike sparks a huge explosion
Lightning strike sparked blaze which ripped through Tata Steel, Port Talbot
Explosion sends flames 100ft into air at Britain's biggest steelworks plant
Steelworkers escaped with their lives and amazingly no one injured in fire
By Amie Gordon For Mailonline
Published: 09:48, 11 February 2016 | Updated: 12:10, 11 February 2016
Steelworkers escaped with their lives after a huge explosion ripped through Britain's biggest steelworks plant this morning.
The massive blast - believed to have been caused by a lightning strike - rocked the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales, shortly after a shift change at 8am.
Flames could be seen for miles around - and parts of the plant were evacuated as emergency services rushed to the scene.
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Fire crews from Mid and West Wales Fire Service were called to the Tata Steel plant in Port Talbot, Wales, around 8am, after a blaze ripped through the site
The massive blast is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, and took place shortly after a shift change
The massive blast is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike, and took place shortly after a shift change
Onlooker Mike O'Neill said: 'My car shook with the explosion as I drove past. I can see massive 100ft flames.
'There was also a huge plume of black smoke.'
Less than two hours later firefighters announced the blaze was out and no one was hurt.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/02/11/11/3115E96700000578-3441957-image-a-25_1455189506944.jpg
Nearby resident Pete Thomas said: 'It is amazing that no one was hurt because the explosion was huge.
'We often hear bangs and see fire but this was something else.'
Last month Tata announced 750 job cuts at the site, among 1,050 across the UK.
The South Wales site is Britain's biggest steelworks plant. Eyewitnesses said flames could be seen for miles around
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The South Wales site is Britain's biggest steelworks plant. Eyewitnesses said flames could be seen for miles around
Parts of the plant were evacuated as emergency services rushed to the scene. One onlooker said his car 'shook' with the force of the explosion
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Parts of the plant were evacuated as emergency services rushed to the scene. One onlooker said his car 'shook' with the force of the explosion
A Tata Steel spokesman said: 'We can confirm that there has been a fire at our Port Talbot coke ovens this morning.
'No one was hurt. Following the necessary safety and operational checks, we will be looking to restart manufacturing operations today.
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A Tata Steel sign is seen outside their plant in Scunthorpe northern England, October 15, 2014. India's Tata Steel Ltd is in talks to sell loss-making European operations including mills in northern England and Scotland to Geneva-based Klesch Group, as it battles weak prices and tentative economic recovery. REUTERS/Phil Noble (BUSINESS INDUSTRIAL) Tata Steel blames 'perfect storm' of cheap Chinese imports...
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'Initial investigations suggest a lightning strike led to the fire at the site's coke ovens.'
Dealing yet another blow to the steel industry last month, it was announced Tata Steel was to cut 750 jobs at the UK's largest steel works in Port Talbot, as well as 200 in support functions and 100 at four other mills.
It has been estimated the Port Talbot plant is losing £1 million a week.
A spokesman for Tata Steel confirmed an investigation was underway into the cause of the blaze and confirmed no one had been injured
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A spokesman for Tata Steel confirmed an investigation was underway into the cause of the blaze and confirmed no one had been injured
Onlookers reported a huge explosion which sent 100ft flames into the air, followed by a plume of thick black smoke
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Onlookers reported a huge explosion which sent 100ft flames into the air, followed by a plume of thick black smoke
Six appliances from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston and an aerial appliance from Swansea West were dispatched to the scene
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Six appliances from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston and an aerial appliance from Swansea West were dispatched to the scene
The Mid and West Wales Fire Service said it was alerted shortly after 8am to reports of the blaze and six crews were dispatched.
Appliances from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston and an aerial appliance from Swansea West attended the scene in south Wales.
A spokeswoman for the fire service said: 'I can confirm that the fire has been extinguished and the power supply has been re-established at the plant.
'The crews are beginning to leave but some are staying to monitor the situation should anything escalate.'
The steel factory building at the Tata plant in Port Talbot, where it was announced last month that Tata Steel was to cut 750 jobs
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The steel factory building at the Tata plant in Port Talbot, where it was announced last month that Tata Steel was to cut 750 jobs
Since August 5,000 steel workers have been made redundant - one in six jobs in the industry - as it struggles to cope with rising energy costs and a glut of cheap Chinese imports.
Last year, Tata announced it was cutting 3,400 jobs in England and Scotland - including 2,200 at Redcar, 900 in Scunthorpe and 270 more at two Scottish plants.
Indian company Tata announced its intention to reduce UK steel production from 4.6 million tonnes a year to 3.5 million tonnes last year.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3441957/Fire-hits-Tata-Steel-plant-Port-Talbot.html#ixzz3zrjaDnaW
