Mold: Crews tackle fire after chemical factory explosion

Emergency services are tackling a fire after an explosion at a chemical factory.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to a fire in the production area of the Synthite factory on Denbigh Road, Mold, Flintshire, at about 14:05 BST.

About 20 workers and contractors were evacuated and a police cordon was put up around the factory.

It is believed one man was injured and has been taken to hospital.

Emily Jones said she rushed to pick up her partner at his work in a building supply company close to the factory.

“[I’ve] never driven so fast in my life to pick him up from work, all safe and hopefully all others in area will be as well,” she said.

Sam Evans said he first heard a “small alarm” before Synthite workers started coming out of the factory when the fire brigade arrived.

“There was smoke for a while, but then you could see the flames come up, and there were some very loud bangs almost like gas cannisters exploding,” the 31-year-old said.

“That went on for three or four minutes, nothing massive, but loud enough to take notice,” adding that as the flames became more visible, an the bangs louder, he decided to leave the area.

Mold town councillor Megan Lloyd Hughes posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to say the situation had been “stabilised” following “multiple explosions”.

North Wales Police said the A541 has been closed from the junction at Dreflan to Black Brook Road Rhyd y Goleu.

Synthite has been on the site since the 1950s producing chemicals, including formaldehyde and chemicals used in agriculture.