Sixth Fall 2023 Explosion: Bomb Goes Off At South Wales Treforest Industrial Estate

Gas?

Treforest: Fire at industrial estate after reports of explosion 

Emergency services are at the scene of a large fire at an industrial estate in south Wales. South Wales Police said officers were responding to a "serious incident" on Severn Road in Treforest, Pontypridd, and that the roads in the area would remain closed for some time. Eyewitnesses have reported hearing a "massive explosion". The Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) said it had declared a major incident. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said a number of crews have been sent to the area. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said all its emergency departments were on high alert due to the "ongoing incident". "Please help us by not attending A&E unless absolutely necessary," it said. Morriston Hospital in Swansea, which is home to the Welsh Centre for Burns, said it was on high alert, alongside all hospitals in south Wales. "Avoid Morriston unless you have a v. serious illness or injury," Swansea Bay health board posted to social media. A WAS spokesperson added it had sent 10 emergency ambulances, seven rapid response vehicles and the Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. Severn Road is home to a number of businesses including a car dealership, a fabrications firm, a pet shop and a gym. The fire is in 60,000 sq ft (5,574 sq m) warehouse called Rizla House that houses 13 commercial units including a gym, a towel manufacturer, a food laboratory and a telecoms service company. The manager of a nearby Esso garage, Krishnaraj Nadarajah, said he contacted the fire service and shut off the pumps at the station. The 40-year-old described hearing a "massive explosion". He said: "It felt like it was an earthquake or something. We went outside and there was a fire starting to build up, it was a huge fire and smoke." He said the flames were reaching toward the sky. "There was black smoke, but now it is like a white smoke," he added. "The noise was very loud, it was a big explosion. Some of the things fell down in the store, off the shelves." Mr Nadarajah called it "very scary". "Now the roads are closed and we can't go outside," he said. 'Big fireball in the sky'

Stanno facendo il giro del mondo, le immagini della forte esplosione avvenuta nel Sud del Galles, nella zona industriale di #Treforest. Decine di ambulanze si stanno dirigendo sul posto. Si temono molte vittime. Centinaia di soccorritori stanno convergendo nella zona.#Wales pic.twitter.com/3QaAd8gx9h

— Marco Ferraglioni (@MFerraglioni) December 13, 2023

Phill Jones from Llantrisant said he was driving along the A473 with his eight-year-old son at about 19:15 GMT when he saw "a really loud bang and a flash of light." "My first reaction was 'Who is letting off fireworks on a Wednesday night?'," he said. "There was a big fireball up in the sky. I swerved the car a little bit and my son got quite animated. "The way it went up, it was almost as if something had exploded." Dr Aeliya Zaidi said she was travelling home along the A4119 when traffic began "piling up" and she saw lots of fire engines and ambulances. The 40-year-old said: "There was a huge, huge fire - it looked very, very dramatic like the ones you see in the movies. "There were lots of people on the roads making videos and taking photos." Dr Zaidi, who works at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, added: "Being a doctor, I was just thinking if any human lives are involved. "Any other thing can be managed but of course if there's anybody inside they're somebody's relative and their life is important." The owner of nearby Green Rooms, Jonny Foxhall, said the music venue's front door was flung open. "We could see a smoke cloud and an orange glow from above the treeline quickly followed by flames," the 36-year-old said. "To feel the shockwave from the explosion is something I've never experienced before." Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd, said "a serious incident has been declared" and she was expecting an update from the emergency services shortly. "I want to reassure residents that the emergency services are responding to this appropriately snd all protocols are being followed. If anyone has imminent concerns, please call 999." Heledd Fychan, regional MS for South Wales Central, said on X, formerly Twitter, she was "hugely concerned by the images and reports regarding a major incident at Treforest Industrial Estate". Source

Decine di ambulanze stanno arrivando a #Treforest, dopo un esplosione che ha provocato un vasto incendio. Notizie ancora frammentarie #Wales pic.twitter.com/gs63jVd2gh

— Marco Ferraglioni (@MFerraglioni) December 13, 2023