Moments ago a massive explosion, accompanied by a raging fire seen from miles away, occurred at a Shell Oil production plant in Moerdijk, Netherlands, reports the Omroep Brabant [5]. Two “enormously loud bangs” were reported by bystanders. Bystanders reported a pink flash of light followed by flames that were meters high. According to a Dutch reporter, the explosion shook the neighborhood houses as if an earthquake occurred. Marieke van Wijk of the Safety Mid and West Brabant reports that the fire occurred during an exchange of services.
"The blaze is pretty intense and the smoke goes straight up. Hazardous substances are igniting high in the air. "Stay at least always the smoke,'' adds the municipality of Moerdijk.
No evacuation of local residents has been ordered so hopefully the damage is contained.
This is what the facility looked like before the accident:
A picture of Shell Moerdijk before the accident. pic.twitter.com/qJOCxTAQsO [6]
— Peter Nut (@nipped) June 3, 2014 [7]
And this is what it looks like right now:
Foto van 1 van de 2 ontploffingen #strijen [8] #moerdijk [9] #brand [10] #shell [11] pic.twitter.com/JriUiBBRc7 [12]
— peter bolderheij (@bolderheij) June 3, 2014 [13]
Dat is flink schrikken. Foto (van foto) vanuit tuin van 2e explosie. #moerdijk [9] #explosie [14] pic.twitter.com/UbxEdOqWNC [15]
— Otto Delen (@OttoWise) June 3, 2014 [16]
Daar gaan de #spruitjes [17] #strijen [8] #brand [10] #moerdijk [9] #shell [11] pic.twitter.com/Yda8JwEPgI [18]
— peter bolderheij (@bolderheij) June 3, 2014 [19]
RT @Korsmitje [20]: Explosie shell pic.twitter.com/O4QnIu4bGE [21]
— Marvin Hake (@MarvinH1997) June 3, 2014 [22]
Update: Oorzaak van de brand in Moerdijk is volgens de burgemeester een ontplofte reactor http://t.co/eKWHF275SZ [23] pic.twitter.com/tWPBZtmgfc [24]
— NU.nl (@NUnl) June 3, 2014 [25]
According to the mayor a reactor has exploded, causing benzene to leak #shell [11] #moerdijk [9]
— Johann (@JCdeGraaf) June 3, 2014 [26]
According to @nbbrk [27] the entire production site is in flames. #shell [11] #moerdijk [9]
— Peter Nut (@nipped) June 3, 2014 [28]
Some facts about #Shell [29] #Moerdijk [30]: area: 320hectaresl; 750 employees; refining: gas oil, nafta and lpg. Prod cap. 4.5Kton/yr
— Bram Talman (@multesimus) June 3, 2014 [31]
The Dutch Brabant, which has a live blog covering the disaster [32], will webcast a live pressconference at 1am local time at the following link [33].