Philadelphia fire: Oil refinery blaze triggers explosion heard more than 60 miles away

Flames and smoke emerge from the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex in Philadelphia.
AP
Bonnie Christian21 June 2019

A huge refinery fire in Philadelphia has triggered an explosion that shook houses and was heard from more than 60 miles away .

There were no reports of injuries or evacuations after the early morning fire broke out at the 150-year-old Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining Complex.

Residents heard and felt explosions - some as far away as South Jersey - and flames shot into the sky.

One person wrote on Twitter they were on the nearby Platt Bridge and could "feel the heat right through the car"

The fire broke out just before 4am and firefighters have now contained the blaze. The cause is still unclear.

It is the second fire at the refinery in one month, following a June 10 fire in which no injuries were reported.

According to its website, the complex produces 335,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

Philadelphia Energy Solutions says the oil refining complex is the largest on the US Eastern Seaboard.

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