A huge fire on a diesel freight train forced terrified residents to evacuate from homes in the middle of the night in south Wales.
Dramatic images and footage from the scene near Llangennech show flames and smoke towering into the sky and a witness has described hearing repeated "explosions" from the wreckage.
Two employees on board the freight train were hurt and no other injuries have been reported, British Transport Police said.
A major incident had been declared as police advised people to avoid the area, which is cordoned off.
The fire blazed in three carriages of the train, according to Dyfed-Powys Police, with dramatic pictures this morning showing the burned-out wreckage. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
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Homes were evacuated after the huge blaze broke out, with residents allowed to return in the early hours of the morning.
John Griffiths and his wife Trish, who live at nearby Talyclun, got evacuated at around 2am.
Mr Griffiths told Wales Online: “When the tanker blew it was a different ballgame. We didn’t know what it was in the beginning, they weren’t telling us anything.
“They then told us it was a tanker and we know how big the tankers are.
“We were standing here looking up at the flames. It was a bit of a frightener when they said we were in the blast zone.
“I went to my daughter’s house in Llanelli out of the way. We had to phone police to find out when we could go back and they told us at 6.30am we could but the road was closed.
“We haven’t had any sleep. It’s been a long night.”
Community councillor Gary Jones told BBC Radio Wales. “I thought the local pub was on fire. I went around to investigate and saw the area that had been cordoned off by the police.
"At that point officers were getting plans together to evacuate parts of the village.
“When I got near it seemed to die down, but then there were fresh explosions and it would flare up again. The height was incredible."
And he continued: “There were not many evacuated in the end because where the train caught fire was just as it was leaving the village. I estimate there were around 100 people in the end. We had about 20 to 30 in the community hall, and there were about 10 in the school.
“The hall hadn’t been opened since lockdown so we had to improvise that.”
Councillor Gwyneth Thomas said: "Quite a lot of people had to leave their homes, but if it happened nearer the train station, lots more people would have been evacuated. They were told to go home at about 4.30am."
She continued: "Everyone aired on the side of caution in case there was a big explosion and because of the wind direction carrying the smoke, but the fire was well contained by the emergency services.
“Today I have been told that the train is still burning. Emergency services are telling people to avoid the area and to not go down there to look at what happened.”
Superintendent Andy Morgan of the British Transport Police said that an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.
He said: “We have launched an investigation and will be assisting the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the exact circumstances behind the incident.
“What we know is a freight train, carrying large amounts of diesel oil, caught fire and a number of its carriages also derailed. Thankfully, despite the clear danger, no injuries have been reported. The two members of railway staff operating the train were able raise the alarm and uncouple the locomotive and move it to a safe space.
“The fire was significant due to the quantity of fuel it was carrying and presented a possible danger to the wider community.
“As a precaution, roads were shut, and Dyfed-Powys Police evacuated a large number of homes within a radius of the fire.
“I believe around 300 people were affected and I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and quick action in what must have been a frightening time.
“At this time, the cause of the fire is unknown and, while the fire continues, there is still a substantial risk within its immediate vicinity, so our advice remains for people to avoid the area.
“Our officers are conducting initial enquiries and are in the process of collecting key witness statements and CCTV. Once the fire is extinguished, and the scene is safe to assess and investigate, they’ll be assisting the ORR and RAIB further at the scene.
“This was and remains a very challenging incident. I’d like to thank all of our partners for their ongoing support and work to ensure the safety of the surrounding community.”
Natural Resources Wales says that officers have attended the fire and are providing advice to help manage the environmental impact of the diesel spill.
A spokesman said: “We will fully assess the impact once the fire is under control and it’s safe to do so, and will provide further updates during the day.”
People were allowed to return to their homes after 5am on Thursday.
Superintendent Ross Evans said: "This is an ongoing major incident, which no doubt caused a significant amount of disruption for those evacuated in the middle of the night.
"The safety of people living in the area was our immediate priority, and an evacuation zone was put in place to minimise the risk of harm.
"I would like to thank residents for their response; our frontline officers who swiftly moved hundreds of residents to the reception centres; as well as our emergency services and local authority colleagues."
