- By James McCarthy
- BBC News
CCTV shows the blast happen at Treforest Industrial Estate
A body has been found at the site of an explosion on an industrial estate in Treforest, south Wales.
The person was located after a search by South Wales Police following Wednesday night’s blaze.
Formal identification has not taken place and officers are supporting the family of a person who had been missing.
Det Supt Richard Jones said the force would now begin investigating the cause of the explosion and fire.
Image source, Valley Times
A body has been found following the blast and fire on Treforest Industrial Estate
Emergency services remain at the scene on Severn Road on the estate in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
At least one building was destroyed and a major incident was declared for several hours after the explosion at about 19:00 GMT on Wednesday.
The fire service said a two-storey building was at risk of collapse and it had seven pumps at the scene, along with an incident command unit.
The fire was in a 60,000 sq ft (5,574 sq m) warehouse called Rizla House.
It houses 13 commercial units including a gym, a towel manufacturer, a food laboratory and a telecoms service company.
Image source, Joseph Barker
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the site of the fire
Det Supt Jones said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the missing person.
“Now that the fire has been brought under control, we will move to the investigative phase to find out what caused this explosion and subsequent fire.
“Roads are gradually being re-opened although some roads and businesses in the area will still be affected.
“I want to thank local residents and businesses for their patience and understanding while this incident is being dealt with.”
Alex Davies-Jones, MP for Pontypridd, called the discovery of the body “heartbreaking” and “devastating for all involved”.
Stephen Davies, who was at a nearby gym when the explosion happened, said: “We were going about our usual gym class and then about quarter past seven we sat down and we had a coffee in the cafe area, the next thing we knew a massive explosion”.
‘Very scary’
He said he and his friend saw the stairwell by the entrance of the cafe explode.
“All the walls caved in, it was carnage… it was very scary,” he said.
“The staff were excellent in terms of getting everybody out, shouting and making sure everybody escaped out the back entrance.
“It’s a bit surreal, because you are sort of in something, you don’t actually realise how life and death that was.
“You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you.”
Several ambulances were at the scene of the fire on Wednesday night
Pet store PetWise, which is near the building, said on Facebook that staff had been escorted into the building to check on the animals and they were safe and well.
They have now been fed and watered.
Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board had put all its emergency departments on high alert for several hours, standing down late on Wednesday.
It also asked people to “continue to make appropriate use of urgent care services to ensure those that most need our care can receive it in a timely way”.
Barber Andrew Cox posted on Facebook that he was trying to work out what the next steps were on appointments.
His shop, Andrew Cox Barbering, is in the building underneath the gym where the explosion happened.
Image source, Wales News Service
Emergency services were still at the scene of the burnt-out gym on Thursday
One nearby business owner said her shop “just exploded”.
Lucy Artiss, tattooist at Sixteen Circles, said she had “lost everything” but all of her colleagues made it out of the building unhurt.
“I feel numb, to be honest. Looks like I’ll need to find a new shop.”
Nearby Integer Telecom, a telecommunication provider, said in a Facebook post its building was destroyed in the explosion, adding: “All our staff are safe and unharmed and business will resume as normal.”
Philip Thomas, who runs the Trefforest Brewery on the industrial estate, said he was “very fortunate” not to have been affected by the blaze, but was concerned about business at a crucial time of year.
“Christmas is when we get a huge amount of our trade in the brewery shop, people buying gift packs and beer,” he said.
“So the roads that connect this business to the western side of the Pontypridd area are really important. If they continue to be shut it will have an effect.
“I think a lot of people are staying away, because that’s been the message. But this part of the industrial estate is open and I really hope that people come back and use our shop in the brewery as usual.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
