Netherlands shell refinery explosion

[angelburst29]

Reports of two explosions with a hugh fireball and flashes of light at a large Shell chemical refinery in the Netherlands.

Netherlands shell refinery explosion
_http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-06-03/explosion-at-dutch-shell-refinery/

Tuesday June 3, 2014 - A large fire has broken out a a Shell chemical refinery in the Netherlands, according to local media.

People nearby heard two huge bangs and saw a flash of light, the reports say.

It is not yet known if there are casualties or the extent of the damage.

Images on social media show a fireball rising from the plant which is in Moerdijk, south of Rotterdam.


At Least Two Hurt in Dutch Shell Chemical Plant Explosion
_http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/06/03/least-two-hurt-dutch-shell-chemical-plant-explosion/KuBVsP4NzOYRyRmOvFJDUL/video.html

A fire broke out at a Shell chemical plant in the Netherlands late on Tuesday night following an explosion, according to the local fire department. The sprawling, 320-hectare or 790-acre plant near the southern town of Moerdijk manufactures chemicals from petroleum for use in products ranging from car components to synthetic fibers and insulation materials. It is supplied by a Shell refinery near Rotterdam. Local media reported two people suffered minor injuries.


Fire at Dutch Shell chemical plant after explosion -fire dept.
_http://www.trust.org/item/20140603214803-dbqno/?source=fiTheWire

AMSTERDAM, June 3 (Reuters) - An explosion and fire were reported at a Shell chemical plant in the Netherlands late on Tuesday night, the local fire department said in a tweet. There were no injuries.

The sprawling, 320-hectare (790-acre) plant near the southern town of Moerdijk manufactures chemicals from petroleum for use in products ranging from car components to synthetic fibres and insulation materials.

It is supplied by a Shell refinery near Rotterdam.

Dutch public television showed pictures of the flames and large plumes of smoke, which eyewitnesses said could be seen in from Rotterdam, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) away.

Shell officials were not immediately available to comment. (Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Dan Grebler)

 

[Gwenllian]

Thanks, angelburst.

Here is a bit more (more lies that is):

_http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/06/blast_rocks_shells_moerdijk_pl.php

Firemen worked through the night to put out a blaze a Shell chemicals plant in Moerdijk near Rotterdam. The fire broke out at around 22.45 after a number of explosions in an empty benzene reactor.

Two people were slightly injured in the blasts, which were heard over very wide area.

According to Nos television, the flames shot metres into the air but had died down after around an hour. Fire experts decided to allow the fire to burn itself out in a controlled manner.

Health

The fire released the chemical substance ethyl-benzene which officials said is not dangerous to health, Nos television reported. However, 'heavy metals' have been found in one sample taken at the site and locals are being urged to avoid coming into contact with soot.

The public health institute RIVM is now carrying out further tests and officials will hold another briefing later on Wednesday morning.

The plant makes oil-based products which are used in the production of packaging, soft drink bottles, dvds, mattresses and car tyres.

The Shell complex is close to the Chemie-Pack factory on the Chemieweg in Moerdijk which was destroyed in a massive blaze in 2011.

Shell has been carrying out maintenance on two of its four plants in Moerdijk. It is not clear if the explosions are connected to the work.

Firemen told people in the area to wash their hands and wipe their feet... " to avoid coming into contact with soot".
Someone reported a pink flash of light and thought it was lithium chloride, don't know, just wanted to mention it.
Ethyl-benzene is dangerous to health, but they are downplaying the effects of it, as they did last time when there was a huge fire in Moerdijk in 2011.

 

[Oxajil]

Yea, I'm pretty sure it's not as safe as they claim it to be. It's on Sott here (which includes videos of the explosion/fire): Massive explosion rocks Shell Oil plant in the Netherlands I wonder what will come out of their research on causation..