A powerful explosion shook Essex County in Great Britain on Friday afternoon, after a large fire broke out at an industrial factory on Southend Road, between the East Hanningfield and Rettendon areas.

Over 100 firefighters have been engaged in the operation to extinguish the flames, while thick clouds of black smoke have covered the area and are visible from miles away.

According to residents, several loud explosions were heard shortly before 6:00 p.m. local time, while emergency services have described the event as a ‘serious incident’.

Witnesses said the sound of the explosion was heard up to about 24 kilometers away, with some initially thinking it was a sonic boom.

One resident reported on social media that the shock wave caused damage even to a relative’s home.

Aerial footage from the scene shows several industrial buildings and vehicles engulfed in flames, while dozens of fire trucks and ambulances continue to operate in the area.

So far there is no official information on victims or injuries, while authorities are investigating the causes of the explosion.

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Police and the relevant services are at the scene, engaged in managing traffic and clarifying the circumstances of the accident.

According to information from the scene, traffic on this stretch was disrupted for more than an hour, while dozens of vehicles were forced to wait in long lines until normal conditions were restored.

Footage obtained shows kilometer-long lines of trucks and vehicles in both lanes of the road. So far, there is no official information about any injured persons, while the intervention of specialized vehicles is expected to remove the truck and normalize traffic.

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