Four still missing after Cheshire mill explosions

Rescue teams have continued their search for four people still missing after a fire and explosions rocked a flour mill in Bosley, Cheshire.

An initial report of a fire at the mill yesterday morning was followed by two loud explosions, which some witnesses likened to “an earthquake”.

Massive were seen extending up to 70 m high, and smoke continues to pour out from the charred wreckage.

Photos from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Paul Hancock, chief fire officer for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are still looking at four people who are unaccounted for at this stage.

“The circumstances down at the scene is one of devastation. When you have two explosions in a building, the building splits open from the inside and as a result of our firefighting tactics over a course of two or three hours it has then collapsed on itself.

“So it is extremely difficult and challenging for those fire crews and those specialist teams to go in to try and locate these potentially missing four people.

In total, 35 people were assessed for injuries at the scene at Wood Flour Mills, with four people taken to hospital.

A 29-year-old woman was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after she suffered serious burns and blast injuries to her head, face, arms and chest.

Another two people were taken to a specialist trauma unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital, while a fourth male casualty was taken to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.

Up to 80 firefighters from Cheshire, Derbyshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire fire and rescue services attended the scene.