03/29/2024

Wales News Online

Local & National News for Wales

Major incident declared and homes evacuated as emergency services deal with train fire near Llangennech

REPORTS are coming in of a cargo train having caught fire on a railway line near Llangennech. Local councillor Gary Jones contacted Llanelli Online earlier to say there had been a terrible accident, which involved a cargo train.

Social media had images of the fire and Hywel Davies captured this amazing footage of the fireball.

Thanks to Hywel James Davies for the video.

People as far away as Penyfan said they could see the flames in the sky. Mid and West Fire Service have been contacted for comment.

Cllr Jones said that police had informed him that a major incident had been declared.

In a statement Dyfed-Powys Police said:

Emergency services are currently dealing with a train fire in Llangennech.

The incident was reported at just before 11.20pm on Wednesday, August 26, when three carriages of a diesel train were alight.

Dyfed-Powys Police, British Transport Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance, with support from Carmarthenshire Council and Natural Resources Wales.

An evacuation zone has been put in place, with police contacting residents in this area and asking them to convene at Bryn School and Llangennech Community Centre.

Road closures are in place. People are asked to avoid the Llangennech and Hendy areas, and vehicles on the M4 are being asked to continue to Pont Abraham.

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Ross Evans said: “This is a fast-moving situation, which has been declared a major incident.

“There are a significant number of emergency services personnel at the scene, and an evacuation zone has been put in place.

“Officers are in contact with people within that area asking them to leave their homes, and we urge people to comply with officers’ requests to ensure a swift and efficient evacuation.

“We are working closely with our colleagues at British Transport Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Carmarthenshire Council, and Natural Resources Wales to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”

Photo: Martyn J Phillips

Update 5:43 am

Dyfed-Powys Police Superintendent Ross Evans said: “This was a fast-moving situation, which was declared a major incident due to the initial risk of harm to people living in the area.

“The policing response was large scale, with officers across the force retained on duty to ensure we had sufficient resources to carry out the evacuation swiftly, as well as the deployment of a logistics specialist to assist and advise our officers on safely moving people from their homes to the reception points.

“The evacuation no doubt caused a significant amount of disruption for those evacuated in the middle of the night, and I would like to personally thank residents for their response, as well as our frontline officers who swiftly moved hundreds of residents out of their homes.

“My thanks also go to our emergency services colleagues for their response, and partners at the local authority for their assistance in finding and opening Bryn School and Llangennech Community Centre as safe points.

“Officers will continue to be visible in Llangennech, and we will continue to work closely with our colleagues at British Transport Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Carmarthenshire Council, and Natural Resources Wales to bring the incident to a conclusion.”

Martyn J Phillips captured this incredible video.

Thanks to Martyn J Phillips for the video.

%d bloggers like this: