Workers on Bellshill Industrial Estate have reported hearing explosions from the scene of a huge fire this morning.
Staff based at surrounding units on the busy estate, just off the A725 Bellshill Bypass, have been evacuated from the area as emergency services keep people away from the incident, amidst safety concerns.
One worker told Lanarkshire Live: "No one can get in or out, the whole area has been cleared. There are gas cannisters and they are afraid they could go up.
"I think there has already been explosions, they aren't taking chances."
Another worker added: "I drove up here from down south and could see the smoke from Larkhall."
People who arrived for work early this morning have been kept out of the estate.
It is understood the fire took hold within the Trade Be Healthcare clinical waste unit.
Trade Be safely manages the disposal of clinical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, radioactive and infectious waste.
There have been no reports indicating anyone has been injured as a result of the blaze.
Currently nine appliances and two ariel rescue pumps are in attendance.
Motorists on the M74 reported seeing plumes of smoke fill the sky as they made their early morning journeys.
Others watched on from their homes in Bellshill, Uddingston, Chapelhall and as far as Hamilton, as a thick plume of black smoke arose.
Workers at the nearby Righead Industrial Estate also reported hearing emergency services race to the scene just across the motorway. And staff within the Bellshill Industrial Estate looked on in horror as the fire took hold.
Householders in the area have posted on social media that ash is currently falling from the sky onto cars and into gardens.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were alerted at 8.11am on Friday, July 9 to reports of a building on fire at Mossbell Road, Bellshill.
“Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the scene where a fire is affecting an industrial unit.
“Additional responses have been sent to the area and there are currently nine appliances and two aerial rescue pumps in attendance and firefighters are continuing to tackle the fire.
"There are no reported casualties at this time."
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