Pembroke explosion - video footage by Simon Ball
Emergency services are investigating an explosion and fire at an oil refinery in west Wales.
The Welsh ambulance service confirmed some people had been injured in the blast at the Pembroke Chevron plant but had not been able to confirm how many.There are unconfirmed reports that two people were killed when two petrol tankers collided inside the refinery.
Milford Haven coastguards reported a "blast large enough to shake the windows" with "black smoke in the air".
Chevron was still in the process of accounting for all personnel.
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End Quote Phil Horne EyewitnessI heard a large explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky”
One man has been flown by air ambulance to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
A hospital spokeswoman said no information on his condition was available and no further casualties were expected there.The Press Association quoted sources as saying that two people had been killed in the explosion.
A spokesman for Welsh Ambulance Services confirmed that paramedics had dealt with casualties at the scene and the air ambulance had been deployed.
But because of the heat of the flames, he said it was not yet certain how many people had been hurt.
The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 engines to the scene and brought the incident under control within an hour and a half.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a "massive bang" and saw plumes of black smoke following the blast.
Phil Horne was in his back garden in Milford Haven, on the opposite side of the waterway, at the time of the incident.
"I heard a large explosion, turned around and saw a large fireball disappearing into the sky," he said.
"It went about halfway up the chimney stack of the refinery."
Eyewitnesses saw a huge plume of smoke "It was really frightening."
In a statement Chevron said: "Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene. The fire has been extinguished.
"We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel."
Milford Haven Port Authority said it was aware of the incident but it was not affecting any ship movements on the waterway.
It said it had two pilot boats on standby if needed but their assistance had not been requested.
The refinery was formerly known as Texaco, later rebranded Chevron-Texaco and known as Chevron since around 2005.
In March, Chevron confirmed Texan oil company Valero Energy had agreed to buy the refinery for $730m (£446m) and pay a further $1bn (£611m) for the stocks of oil, petrol and other products on site.
The site, which can refine 220,000 barrels of crude oil a day into petrol and other products, has yet to change hands.
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