2LT International News

MUNICH, Germany – About 600 firefighters were mobilized near the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt in southern Germany, where a powerful explosion at a oil refinery caused a massive fire, which left at least ten people injured. 

In the incident that took place on Saturday, after an explosion at 5.30 am (0330 GMT), fire erupted at the refinery that is owned by the Bayernoil group and is located near the Bavarian city of Ingolstadt, on the banks of the Danube river. 

As emergency services, police and firefighters arrived, the public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk put out images from the burning site and said that shockwaves from the blast were felt several kilometers away.     

The police said that they immediately enforced temporary evacuations in surrounding areas.

They said almost 2,000 local residents were evacuated from nearby towns of Vohburg and Irsching as a precaution.

Further, emergency services had appealed to residents within a 20-kilometer (12-mile) radius to “keep their doors and windows closed because of the smoke.”

Meanwhile, as the fire continued to grow, more firefighters rushed to the spot, to join in efforts to douse the flames. 

Overall, about 600 firefighters were at the scene along with rescue workers and by mid-afternoon, the police confirmed that large parts of the fire had been extinguished. 

Local media broadcast dramatic images from the scene, which showed flames and smoke rising above the refinery early in the morning.

The police further said in a statement that ten people had suffered injuries in the blaze and confirmed that all of the injured were employees at the refinery. 

Officials added that four of them had to be hospitalized, and that one of them was in a serious condition.

Residents from surrounding areas that had been evacuated, were allowed to return to their homes after four hours. 

A local police spokesman said, “The situation has eased a little. And the evacuation of the nearby residents is no longer necessary.”

Later in the day, a local newspaper called The Donaukurier stated that a number of small explosions were heard several kilometers away, after the initial blast.