Avonmouth explosion explained

Avonmouth explosion
Time:11:20 GMT
Date:3 December 2020
Venue:Bristol Bioresources and Renewable Energy Park
Location:Avonmouth, Bristol, United Kingdom
Reported Deaths:4
Reported 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]

The sewage treatment and food waste site is operated by GENeco,[5] a subsidiary of Wessex Water.[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]

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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Avonmouth explosion: Boy, 16, among four workers killed . 4 December 2020 . 26 December 2020 . BBC News.
  2. News: Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol. Morris. Steven. 3 December 2020. 4 December 2020. The Guardian.
  3. News: 3 December 2020 . Avonmouth explosion: Four dead in Bristol water works blast . BBC News . 4 December 2020.
  4. Web site: Great Western Air Ambulance crew responds to major Avonmouth incident . . 3 December 2020 . 21 December 2020.
  5. Web site: 2019-07-18. Biomethane bus refuelling station builds on the legacy of the Bio-Bus. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130194605/https://www.geneco.uk.com/Biomethane_bus_refuelling_station_builds_on_the_legacy_of_the_Bio-Bus/ . 30 November 2020 . 2020-12-04. GENeco. en-GB.
  6. Web site: 30 June 2019. GENeco Limited – Annual Report and Financial Statements. 4 December 2020. Companies House.
  7. Web site: Bristol Community Transport unveiled as Metrobus m1 operator. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20181214062728/http://hctgroup.org/about_us/hct_group_news/630/Bristol%20Community%20Transport%20unveiled%20as%20Metrobus%20m1%20operator. 14 December 2018. HCT Group.
  8. Web site: 2021-08-11 . New details revealed about fatal Avonmouth explosion at Wessex Water plant . 2022-06-17 . The Bristol Cable . en-GB.
  9. Web site: 2021-12-03 . Avonmouth explosion: Investigations ongoing into blast which killed four . 2022-06-17 . ITV News . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Avonmouth explosion".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.