Chemical leak causes full shutdown of gas terminal
EMERGENCY SERVICES WERE DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE
A CHEMICAL leak caused the full shutdown of Easington Gas Terminal yesterday as a major incident was declared with a huge emergency response.
Emergency services were called to the Centrica gas processing plant just after 11am yesterday.
The “liquid leak” was reportedly of methanol, a colourless, highly flammable liquid with an alcoholic odour similar to ethanol.
In a statement issued by 2.15pm, a Centrica spokeswoman confirmed that the leak had been contained: “At around 11am today a liquid leak was detected at our Easington gas processing terminal.
“The plant has been fully shutdown as a precaution and the leak contained.
“All personnel on site are safe and accounted for and, in line with our standard safety procedures, we informed the local fire and emergency services who attended.”
Councillor David Tucker, who represents South East Holderness ward which includes the village of Easington, said: “I’d like to thank Centrica for reassuring local residents that all was well.
“And I’d like to also thank the local emergency services for their rapid response.”
Five appliances from Humberside Fire & Rescue Service attended the scene, as well as Humberside Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service hazardous response team units.
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Yorkshire Ambulance Service received a call at 11.19am today regarding an incident at the Easington Gas Terminal.
“Our Hazardous Area Response
Team was dispatched to the scene as a precautionary measure and was stood down just before 2pm.”
Fire crews were seen leaving the site either side of 2pm, and it was confirmed that only one fire engine remained in attendance by 3.10pm.
Earlier this afternoon, South East Holderness ward Councillor, Claire Holmes, reassured Easington residents that there was “no risk” to the village.
She said: “All non-essential personnel have left the site, the situation is contained and under control and there is no risk to the village.
“Standard operating procedures are being followed, hence the emergency vehicles in the area. There are dealing with it and it is contained on the premises.”
“I saw an ambulance, fire engine and major incident team and fire truck with foam all fly past me on my way home from Hull,” one person said.
Councillor Tucker added that Centrica are currently working with Mercury Communications to set up a text alert system to improve communications with Easington residents in any future incidents at the gas processing plant.