One person is said to be unaccounted for after an "explosion" on an industrial estate in Wales on Wednesday evening.
A fire broke out on Treforest Industrial Estate, Rhondda Cynon Taf, but has resulted in no serious injuries being confirmed, police have said. Emergency services remain at the scene on Severn Road.
In a statement on X, South Wales Police said: "We are at the scene of a serious incident on Severn Road, Treforest. The roads around the industrial estate are currently closed and are expected to remain as such for some time. Please avoid the area."
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South Wales' biggest hospitals were said to be on "major incident alert" with people told not to go to A&E unless "absolutely necessary". But at 11.31pm on Wednesday, emergency departments were said to be standing down from their high alert, Wales Online reports.
In a later update South Wales Police said emergency services remained at the scene, adding: "There are no reports of any serious injuries. However, one person remains unaccounted for. Residents living nearby are advised to close all doors and windows while this incident is continuing.
"Businesses in the area are requested to implement their own business continuity plans to deal with the on-going road closures which will affect them throughout the night and into the morning. Significant road closures remain in place and the public is requested to avoid the area."
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dewi Rose said: “At 7.05pm this evening SWFRS responded to repeat calls about an explosion at Mindset Gym, Rizla House, Severn Road on Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd. SWFRS currently has 16 pumping appliances, a number of special appliances and officers in attendance. The latest from the scene is that the building, a large multi-use use two-storey, commercial premises, is totally alight and at risk of collapse.
“Our partners from South Wales Police, WAST, Wales & West Utilities, NRW, RCTCBC, CTMUHB and National Grid are supporting us to deal with the incident, and at the moment our focus is firmly fixed on the emergency response.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed 10 emergency ambulances, seven rapid response vehicles and the Hazardous Area Response Team had been sent to the scene. It said a major incident had been declared because the resources needed to respond had compromised the ambulance service's ability to get to other patients in the community.
A WAS spokesperson said earlier in the evening: "Tonight, Wednesday, 13 December, 2023, the Welsh Ambulance Service has declared a major incident in response to a large fire at Treforest Industrial Estate, Severn Road, Pontypridd. We have sent 10 emergency ambulances, seven rapid response vehicles and the Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. We have been supported by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service."
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