Avonmouth explosion

{{short description|2020 Explosion in Bristol, England}}

{{Old news|date=March 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox event

| title = Avonmouth explosion

| time = 11:20 GMT

| date = 3 December 2020

| venue = Bristol Bioresources and Renewable Energy Park

| location = Avonmouth, Bristol, United Kingdom

| coordinates = {{Coord|51.51264|-2.67641|type:event_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

| reported deaths = 4

| reported injuries = 1

| image = Avonmouth Explosion Silo Aftermath.jpg

| caption = The silo that exploded, as seen from Kings Weston Lane

}}

On 3 December 2020, at about 11:20 GMT, a silo containing biosolids exploded in Avonmouth, Bristol, UK, killing four men, including a 16-year old apprentice,{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55191585 | title = Avonmouth explosion: Boy, 16, among four workers killed | date = 4 December 2020 | accessdate = 26 December 2020 | work = BBC News}} and injuring another person.{{Cite news|title=Four dead after explosion at Avonmouth water plant in Bristol|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/03/large-explosion-at-industrial-area-near-bristol-avonmouth|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=3 December 2020|access-date=4 December 2020|work=The Guardian}} Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident,{{Cite news |date=3 December 2020 |title=Avonmouth explosion: Four dead in Bristol water works blast |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-55173667 |access-date=4 December 2020}} the Hazardous Area Response Team from Bristol and a doctor and specialist paramedic in critical care from the nearby Great Western Air Ambulance headquarters attended the incident by both their rapid response car and emergency helicopter.{{cite web | url = https://greatwesternairambulance.com/great-western-air-ambulance-crew-responds-to-major-incident-in-avonmouth/ | publisher = Great Western Air Ambulance Charity | title = Great Western Air Ambulance crew responds to major Avonmouth incident | date = 3 December 2020 | accessdate = 21 December 2020}}

The sewage treatment and food waste site is operated by GENeco,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-07-18|title=Biomethane bus refuelling station builds on the legacy of the Bio-Bus|url=https://geneco.uk.com/Biomethane_bus_refuelling_station_builds_on_the_legacy_of_the_Bio-Bus/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130194605/https://www.geneco.uk.com/Biomethane_bus_refuelling_station_builds_on_the_legacy_of_the_Bio-Bus/ |archive-date=30 November 2020 |access-date=2020-12-04|website=GENeco|language=en-GB}} a subsidiary of Wessex Water.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=30 June 2019|title=GENeco Limited – Annual Report and Financial Statements|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06842738/filing-history/MzI0ODA3MDQzMmFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Companies House}} Its products include biomethane produced by anaerobic digestion, which is supplied to bus operators, among them Bristol Community Transport who operate one of the MetroBus routes.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Bristol Community Transport unveiled as Metrobus m1 operator|url=http://hctgroup.org/about_us/hct_group_news/630/Bristol%20Community%20Transport%20unveiled%20as%20Metrobus%20m1%20operator|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214062728/http://hctgroup.org/about_us/hct_group_news/630/Bristol%20Community%20Transport%20unveiled%20as%20Metrobus%20m1%20operator|archivedate=14 December 2018|accessdate=|website=HCT Group}}

Unconfirmed evidence obtained by The Bristol Cable suggests the men were using angle grinders on the top of a silo where methane could have accumulated, without adequate controls to prevent ignition.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-11 |title=New details revealed about fatal Avonmouth explosion at Wessex Water plant |url=https://thebristolcable.org/2021/08/revealed-avonmouth-explosion-wessex-water-staff-allege-no-ignition-risk-assessment/ |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=The Bristol Cable |language=en-GB}} The official investigation was closed in July 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=Avonmouth explosion: 'Insufficient evidence' for manslaughter conviction |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpv3ng676k5o |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} due to "insufficient evidence" for a manslaughter conviction.