At this stage few details of the explosion have been released, but the site on Kings Weston Lane also houses a composting and anaerobic digestion plant.
[Update 7 December 2020: The authorities in Bristol have confirmed that four people died in the incident which involved an explosion in a biosolids tank on the Wessex Water site.]
The fire service, police and ambulance service were called at approximately 11.20am this morning to the site where “an explosion is believed to have occurred involving one of the chemical tanks at Wessex Water’s Bristol water recycling centre”.
According to Avon & Somerset Police, a rescue operation was subsequently led by the fire service, involving five appliances and two turntable crews and we can confirm there have been a number of casualties.
Avon Fire & Rescue service says crews remain at the scene, although the case has now been handed over to the police
A full investigation into the incident will be conducted. Residents have been warned to avoid the area. Bristol Waste, which runs a CA site near the site, has temporarily closed the facility.
All images below are credited to: jawadburhan98
Cordon
Chief Inspector Mark Runacres said: “Officers remain at the scene and are likely to be for some time as we work together with other agencies in dealing with this major incident.
“A cordon has been set up and we’d advise members of the public to avoid the area at this time where possible to allow the emergency services to carry out their work.
“Police enquiries into exactly what happened are at a very early stage and are continuing.”
Large explosion
Avon Fire and Rescue Service area manager Matt Peskett said: “We were called at 11.22am to reports of a large explosion on Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth.
“Crews from Avonmouth, Southmead, Yate, Patchway, Hicks Gate, Kingswood, Weston-super-Mare and Temple were mobilised and attended the incident.
“We were joined at the scene by our police and ambulance colleagues and have now handed over the incident to the police and continue to support our multi-agency partners.”
Multiple resources
A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service added: “We sent multiple resources to the scene, including land air and other specialist paramedic teams.
“We supported Avon Fire & Rescue Service and Avon & Somerset Police at the scene.”
The site is thought to house the Bristol Bioresources and Renewable Energy Park which houses Geneco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water. Its activities include processing food waste from Bristol. The company owns three permits for the site, for liquid waste: PP3634MG, food waste: PP3734LK and compost: EPR/AB3037WV.
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