'Two dead' in Wales refinery fire

Two people are reported dead after an explosion at a major oil refinery in west Wales.

Two people are reported dead after an explosion at a major oil refinery in west Wales.

Emergency services were called to the Chevron refinery at Pembroke Dock at 6.22pm.

"It was reported as an explosion and a confirmed fire," a spokeswoman for the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed.

The BBC reported that two people had died.

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A fireball and smoke had been seen at the refinery which specialises in processing lower quality crude oil. Television pictures showed a pall of black smoke rising from the sprawling refinery complex.

The spokeswoman said the fire service had sent five pumps and five specialist trucks to the scene. She had no further details.

Chevron confirmed an "incident" had occurred at the refinery and that the fire had been extinguished, but gave no further details about it or about any injuries.

"Emergency services were called and responded immediately and remain on the scene. ... We are taking appropriate action to respond to the situation. We are still in the process of accounting for all personnel," Chevron said in a statement.

Chevron put the 220,000 barrels-per-day refinery up for sale last year to lower its exposure to the refining business.