Hunt for blast survivors

13 April 2012

Rescuers are battling to rescue ten people believed to be trapped in the rubble of a plastics factory after a massive explosion today.

The blast happened at Stockline Plastics in Grovepark Street, off Maryhill Road in the west end of Glasgow.

The area was sealed off and emergency services were at the scene of the blast. The injured are being treated at three of the city's hospitals.

A spokesman said 11 people had been taken to hospital in the city but was unable to confirm if there had been any fatalities. Earlier reports suggested that two people may have died.

One woman, who was shopping in a nearby store when she heard a massive explosion, said: "I heard a loud explosion and ran out of the store.

"I could hear people screaming and there were people running about covered in blood.

"There were people buried in the rubble. They were screaming for help - it was horrific."

Gerry McGuinness, 44, a technician who was working at the nearby Dentec dental lab, ran to the scene immediately after the blast.

He said: "I just heard a massive explosion. It was really loud, it sounded like a bomb going off. It nearly shook me off my seat, the blast was so strong.

"We ran up and started taking some of the bricks away. There were four guys and one girl trapped under the rubble. We couldn't see them but they were screaming at us for us to help them.

"We were trying to move the bricks when a man came and told us to stop because it may be unsafe, then the police arrived.

"If anyone gets out of that alive, they'll be lucky."

Mary Morrow, who works in La France hairdressers on Maryhill Road just opposite the site of the blast, said: "We just heard an explosion, it was absolutely colossal.

"It shook the windows of the shop. We ran out to see what had happened but all we could see was a massive cloud of smoke and dust.

"Within about five minutes the police and ambulances started to arrive. They were everywhere."

The cause of the blast was not immediately clear although survivors suggested one of four ovens in the factory - two electric and two gas - may have exploded.

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