Aerial images show horror aftermath of gas tank explosion after lightning strike

03 October 2023 , 13:19

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New images show the aftermath of a huge gas tank explosion caused by a lightning strike (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

Staggering new aerial images show the aftermath of a huge explosion unleashed by a thunderstorm.

A fireball lit up the night sky during the 'bomb-like' blast yesterday evening at Trent Green Power plant in Oxfordshire, which was caused by lightning hitting a gas tank.

People living in Oxford reported hearing two explosions before the fire erupted, while others in the area claimed to have heard the noise as far as 20 miles away.

Severn Trent said the explosion occurred at around 7.20pm on Monday, and confirmed no-one was injured. The company also stated on Tuesday that the plant was now 'completely safe', but urged members of the public to avoid coming to the site.

Three biogas tanks appear to have been blown through in new aerial photos (Tom Wren / SWNS)

Daytime aerial photographs now show the devastation left behind, with the roofs of three biogas tanks appearing to have been blown through. Smoke continued to rise from the site in the morning, and fire crews are said to have worked through the night to tackle the blaze. A total of six fire engines, 40 firefighters, police and four ambulances attended the explosion at the plant.

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Jack Frowde, 34, who works at Oxford University, told the PA news agency that he was in his kitchen when the whole room lit up with a "brilliant white light", which was then "followed by a huge crack which sounded like really heavy thunder". He added: "I looked out of the kitchen window and it was as if the sky was pulsating orange. I ran to the back to capture the orange glow as it faded after about 20 seconds."

Fire crews worked through the night to dampen the site, which was still smouldering on Tuesday morning (Tom Wren / SWNS)

Stuart Hosking, in his 50s, from Oxford, an AI business director and former contestant on Big Brother, said: "We were pretty close. I thought it was the sun setting, until I saw the flickering and smoke. The lights flickered in the house then a flash, then a rumble like thunder, but a single bang."

Severn Trent Green Power confirmed a digester tank was struck by lightning which "caused an explosion in our biogas tanks". A spokesperson said: "We'd like to thank the emergency services for their work overnight to contain and lead the incident at Cassington, where our plant was struck by lightning. Keeping our teams and the local community safe has been of paramount importance and we are relieved that no-one has been hurt. We will continue to work with the emergency services who are still on site as we assess the damage and while the fire is under control, we urge people not to come to the site today."

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas