In pictures: Fuel depot blast
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Three large explosions have taken place at an fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire. Photo: Zoot Steeples. -
The first blast happened just after 0600 GMT, at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to junction 8 of the M1. -
Many houses nearby were damaged by the force of the blast and some streets have been evacuated. Photo: Ming Wah Wong. -
Homeowners report buckled front doors, cracked walls and blown-out windows. Photo: Robert Slack. -
The depot is 10 miles from Luton Airport and several eyewitnesses initially thought a plane had crashed. Photo: Bruce Walker. -
Police say there are casualties and emergency services are at the scene. Photo: Dan Curtis. -
The M1 has been closed in both directions on the approach to the depot. Photo: David Wilkinson. -
Witnesses report hearing the blasts more than 100 miles away. Photo: Myra Stokes. -
The area around the site has been evacuated with police advising residents to stay indoors. -
Police said the thick cloud of smoke was heading east. -
The fire could continue to burn for days. Photo: Emma Highfield. -
Smoke from the Buncefield oil depot fire spread across south-east England. Photo: Adam Strudwick. -
A passenger on a flight from Stansted captured this image of the blazing tanks. Photo: Dr David Otway. -
The blasts began just after 0600 on December 11, at the Buncefield fuel depot, close to the M1. Photo: Andy Baxter. -
Homeowners reported buckled front doors, cracked walls and blown-out windows. Photo: Warren McKenzie. -
The M1 was closed in both directions on the approach to the depot. Photo: Veronica Smolka. -
Witnesses reported hearing the blasts more than 100 miles away. Photo: David Vincent. -
Residents who were thought to be at risk from the fires spent the night billeted at emergency shelters. -
Firefighters tackling the Buncefield oil depot inferno have extinguished the fires in all but three of the 20 blazing fuel tanks. -
As the fires are extinguished the damage caused by the initial blast on Sunday morning to surrounding buildings becomes apparent. -
Warehouses on the nearby industrial estate have been ripped open... -
...and cars flipped over. -
The final phase of the operation is due to begin with a "sustained foam attack" on the largest tank. -
The remaining smaller fires are also being extinguished... -
...as the two-day operation nears its conclusion.