‘Chemical explosion’ sparks ‘enormous leak’ fears as orange plume seen in sky
An orange plume of smoke has been spotted billowing out from a factory in County Durham, following reports of a ‘chemical explosion.’
Photographs and video footage show an enormous smoke cloud shooting up from the Billingham Manufacturing Plant, in Billingham today (May 24).
Locals reported hearing alarming sirens from the edifice, a dormant fertiliser plant located within Stockton Business Park.
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An eyewitness remarked: “Nice plume of nasty looking stuff has just come out of Billingham Manufacturing Plant and now all the alarms are going off (and it isn’t 10am on a Tuesday). Close your windows and doors Billingham!”
(Image: @gibgod/Twitter)
Cleveland Police has now issued a statement about the incident that took place at lunchtime today.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Emergency services have attended the site of a fertiliser company in Haverton Hill this lunchtime after reports of an industrial incident involving the small release of a gas from the facility.
“This is now dissipating, and the incident is beginning to stand down.
“There are no reports of any injuries to anyone and there are no off-site implications or further risk to the public.”
(Image: @billysynners/X)
It comes as another apparent explosion in nearby Durham city centre, also at lunchtime, saw emergency services erect cordons.
Pavements in the city centre, around 20 miles north west of Billingham, were damaged but there were no reports of any injuries following the blast at around 12.30pm on today.
A Durham Police spokesman said: “Police were called to Durham City shortly after 12.30pm today following what appears to be an underground explosion.
“Pavements were damaged during the incident in North Road but there are no reports of any injuries.
“A cordon is currently in place between Framwellgate Bridge and North Road and shoppers are asked to avoid the area.”
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