Massive explosions hit fuel depot.
Three large explosions have rocked a fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire shooting flames hundreds of feet into the sky.
Police say there are casualties and emergency services are at the scene.
The first blast happened at 0603 GMT at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to junction 8 of the M1 motorway, 10 miles from Luton airport.
It is being treated as an accident and rumours that a plane was involved are unfounded, said a police spokesman….
Unconfirmed reports indicate 8 dead.
An unconfirmed report said that eight people were killed in the blasts that rocked the Buncefield oil depot in Hevel Hempstead, 25 miles north of London, shortly after 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Zaka reported that the three large explosions were set off when a plane crashed into the oil storage facility at Leverstock Green, located in the vicinity of Luton Airport.
Ambulances were on their way to evacuate the victims. The number of injured and the severity of their condition was unknown.
Eyewitnesses reported “enormous” blasts, which shook structures for miles around and caused extensive damage to nearby buildings.
The Hempstead Ramada hotel, whose windows were heavily damaged, has been evacuated.
An enormous fire broke out, sending smoke billowing up and turning the sky “orange.” Flames reportedly shot up two and three stories.
Passing drivers reportedly stopped their cars and were gazing at the spectacle.
Rescue forces stress that at this time they do not know whether the explosions were an accident, possibly a technical problem, or acts of terror.
Police have closed off the immediate area.
On July 7, the London Underground was targeted by a series of bombings that killed over 50 people.
UPDATE: Now I’m hearing no dead but 43 wounded. Explosions were heard as far away as France and the Netherlands. Believed to be an accident. Nasty smoke clouds visible by satellite.
ANOTHER UPDATE FROM THE BBC:
The man in charge of investigating the massive fires at a Hertfordshire oil depot on Sunday says the flames may have destroyed all clues to the cause.