One dead after explosion at Rotterdam oil storage facility as probe begins
One person has died and several others have been wounded after an explosion at a petroleum products storage facility in the Dutch port of Rotterdam.
The city police said the blast currently ‘appears to be a workplace accident’ and the country’s Labour Inspectorate would continue the investigation.
A spokesperson for Gunvor, a major energy commodities trading company, said the incident happened while maintenance work on a storage tank.
In a post on X, Rotterdam police initially referred to the area as a ‘crime scene’ but have since said there was no immediate sign of sabotage.
The blast occurred at around 11.30am [10.30am UK time].
A spokesperson for Gunvor said: ‘We are cooperating with local authorities.’
Shell said the incident did not affect its operations at the port, and there was also confirmed to be no impact on the port’s LNG terminals.
According to local media, several power outages at the Port of Rotterdam had taken place earlier today which led Exxonmobil to shut all units at its refinery there.
The port later confirmed the outages were not linked to the explosion.
Rotterdam is the largest seaport in Europe and the 11th busiest port in the world by cargo tonnage.
It comprises an oil refinery and a number of petrochemical facilities.
Head of Investigations
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