London
A massive fire at an oil-storage facility north of London burned for two days this week before officials could get it under control. Some 20 fuel tanks ignited, and huge explosions blew out windows of nearby buildings as a massive blanket of pungent black smoke settled over several counties. Firefighters were finally able to smother the blaze with foam. Authorities said it appeared the explosions were caused by an accident, but they declined to completely rule out terrorism. Investigating the source will be difficult because the blaze was so hot, it melted any evidence that might have existed. The depot, owned jointly by Texaco and Total, held 4.2 million gallons of oil.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of JulyCartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Crossword: July 5, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
