BUNCEFIELD: WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY?
A huge explosion audible nearly 200 miles away and which registered 2.4 on the Richter scale, followed by a devastating fire just north of London, destroyed a major tanker terminal with it millions of litres of aviation and vehicle fuel, causing shortages at fuel stations across south east UK and fuel rationing for aircraft at Heathrow airport. That was the immediate impact. Early indications are that a leak of fuel products led to the formation of a flammable mist which ignited with devastating results.
Now the incident is jointly under investigation by the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency, there are questions about site safety, and operational management issues which will need answering. Answers will probably take time to emerge. And the tank storage industry must wait for the outcome from what is likely to be a lengthy investigation into exactly what happened, and more importantly, why.
Early findings In mid February a 31-page progress report by the Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) scrutinizing Buncefield indicated early findings. Introducing that report, Taf Powell, head of the MIIB stated: "The explanation of what the investigation team believes is most likely to have led to the devastation of the area is not yet verified by scientific modelling and other evidence but I have sufficient confidence in the evidence to believe on balance that it should be made public."
One of the key findings, is: "Evidence obtained so far points to the formation of a flammable mixture of petrol, or similar spirit, and air that ignited, leading to the explosions and fire. The flammable mixture appears associated with a visible mist. This evidence includes reports from eyewitness statements, CCTV records, and forensic material."
