• en
Natech Accident
DISCLAIMER: The Joint Research Centre does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the data in eNatech. It also reserves the right to cancel or change records without prior notification.
Natech Accident
2023/10/02
19:20
Lightning strike at Oxford, United Kingdom, 2023
Severn Trent Green Power Plant at Cassington, Oxford, United Kingdom
Published

Units Involved

  1. Biogas tank
    Storage: Other

Event Sequences

  1. Explosion and fire
    1. Biogas tank
    A lightning strike has caused a huge gas explosion at a food waste recycling plant in Oxfordshire.
    The strike caused one biogas tank to explode at about 19:20 BST.
    1. Food waste
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Natural Hazard: Other
    A lightning strike hit a biogas tank.
    		-
    Fire: Fireball
    The content of the biogas tank ignited due to the lightning strike, which resulted in the tank's explosion and the eruption of a large fire. A fireball was seen by witnesses (pyramid of flames inside a yellow and orange mushroom-like shape).

Weather Conditions

Rain
Rain with thunderstorms

Emergency Response

Six fire engines, 40 firefighters, police and at least four ambulances were deployed to the plant.
Fire crews were using an aerial appliance and water tank to extinguish the flames.
Paramedics were at the scene - they were there on standby to assist police and the fire service.

Consequences

No injuries and no casualties were reported.
Infrastructure (e.g. roads, railways, air transport)
The force said the A40 highway was closed between Wolvercote and Eynsham as a result of the incident.
To ensure public safety, nearby residents were asked to stay at home, to shut windows and doors and not to attend the scene.
ID: 103, Created: Kyriaki GKOKTSI, 2023-10-12 10:04:09 – Last Updated: Kyriaki GKOKTSI, 2023-10-12 10:45:42

Attachments

NoDescriptionFile Size
1.BBC News3.92MB
2.Sky News8.54MB
3.The Guardian news561.01KB
Last update: 2024/04/17 | Top