Two people are missing and at least four others have been injured after an explosion at a firework factory in Stafford yesterday evening.
Eight fire engines and 50 fire officers were sent to tackle the blaze after residents reported hearing an explosion before flames began to engulf the building at Baswich Industrial Estate.
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.
"There were fireworks going off in all directions, bangs, great plumes of black smoke," one eyewitness told the BBC.
"The flames were sky-high. For 45 minutes to an hour it was horrendous and you could not help but watch it," one resident told The Guardian.
Two people were rushed to hospital suffering from severe burns and smoke inhalation while two others were treated at the scene. Another person, who has not been publicly named, remains unaccounted for.
Police evacuated several neighbouring houses and businesses, while other residents were told to remain inside with their windows closed. A number of roads in the area were also closed.
"This is a fireworks factory and there are chemicals and things so we are not entirely sure yet what we are dealing with," West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Steve Wheaton told Sky News.
Police and fire officers are continuing to investigate the cause of the blaze. Superintendent Jane Hewett told the BBC: "Sadly at this stage we believe there is a person unaccounted for and our focus remains tracing those at the factory shortly before the explosion."
She said the cause of the explosion still remains unclear and urged anyone with any information to contact Staffordshire police.
-
The return of 'Wednesday,' an 'Alien' prequel and a dramatic retelling of the Amanda Knox trial all happening in August TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'Alien: Earth,' 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' and a new season of 'Wednesday'
-
How does a 401(k) hardship withdrawal work and is it smart to take one?the explainer More Americans than ever are resorting to this option in a pinch
-
What does occupying Gaza accomplish for Israel?Talking Points Risking a 'strategic dead-end' in fight against Hamas
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drugSpeed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policySpeed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UKSpeed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
-
Sandy Hook families vs. Remington: a small victory over the gunmakersSpeed Read Last week the families settled a lawsuit for $73m against the manufacturer
-
Farmers vs. walkers: the battle over ‘Britain’s green and pleasant land’Speed Read Updated Countryside Code tells farmers: ‘be nice, say hello, share the space’
-
Motherhood: why are we putting it off?Speed Read Stats show around 50% of women in England and Wales now don’t have children by 30
-
Anti-Semitism in America: a case of double standards?Speed Read Officials were strikingly reluctant to link Texas synagogue attack to anti-Semitism
