Avonmouth explosion
 The silo that exploded, as seen from Kings Weston Lane | |
| Date | 3 December 2020 |
|---|---|
| Time | 11:20 GMT |
| Venue | Bristol Bioresources and Renewable Energy Park |
| Location | Avonmouth, Bristol, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′46″N 2°40′35″W / 51.51264°N 2.67641°W |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1 |
On 3 December 2020, at about 11:20 GMT, a silo containing biosolids exploded in Avonmouth, Bristol, UK, killing four men, including a 16-year old apprentice,[1] and injuring another person.[2] Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident,[3][2] and a doctor and specialist paramedic in critical care from the nearby Great Western Air Ambulance headquarters attended the incident by both their rapid response car and emergency helicopter.[4][3]
The sewage treatment and food waste site is operated by GENeco,[5] a subsidiary of Wessex Water.[3][6] Its products include biomethane produced by anaerobic digestion, which is supplied to bus operators, among them Bristol Community Transport who operate one of the MetroBus routes.[7][5]
Unconfirmed evidence obtained by The Bristol Cable suggests the men were using angle grinders on the top of a silo where methane could have accumulated, without adequate controls to prevent ignition.[8] The official investigation remains in progress as of December 2021.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "Avonmouth explosion: Boy, 16, among four workers killed". BBC News. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
- ^ a b Morris, Steven (3 December 2020). "Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Avonmouth explosion: Four dead in Bristol water works blast". BBC News. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Great Western Air Ambulance crew responds to major Avonmouth incident". Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Biomethane bus refuelling station builds on the legacy of the Bio-Bus". GENeco. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "GENeco Limited – Annual Report and Financial Statements". Companies House. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Bristol Community Transport unveiled as Metrobus m1 operator". HCT Group. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018.
- ^ "New details revealed about fatal Avonmouth explosion at Wessex Water plant". The Bristol Cable. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ "Avonmouth explosion: Investigations ongoing into blast which killed four". ITV News. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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