Rotterdam port explosion kills one and leaves several injured
One person has been killed and several others injured after an explosion at a petroleum product storage facility in the Dutch port of Rotterdam on Thursday.
Officials confirmed the cause of the blast remains unknown. The incident happened at approximately 11.30am (0930 GMT).
A spokesperson for energy trading giant Gunvor explained that an "incident" occurred during maintenance on a storage tank, adding the firm is fully cooperating with local authorities. Police reported no initial evidence of sabotage, though all potential causes are currently being investigated.
Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, houses oil refineries, liquefied natural gas terminals and multiple petrochemical plants.
Major energy firms operating there include Shell, ExxonMobil, BP and Gunvor Energy.
open image in galleryShell stated its site operations were unaffected, while a Rotterdam Port spokesperson confirmed LNG terminals were also undisturbed.
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil shut down all units at its 191,000 barrels/day refinery due to a power outage, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie reported in a client note seen by Reuters. ExxonMobil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Rotterdam Port spokesperson said that there is no connection whatsoever between the power outage and the earlier explosion at the petroleum product storage site.
