Fire crews are tackling a large blaze at the Tata Steel site in Port Talbot.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the plant, close to residential areas, after the fire broke out on Wednesday evening. Residents reported hearing alarms at around 7pm before black smoke began billowing from the site. Some said sirens were still blaring shortly before midnight.
Videos shared with Wales Online show smoke pouring from the plant, with some residents telling the outlet they could taste it in the air.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident at Tata Steel, Port Talbot. Large plumes of smoke are visible in the area.
“Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed. Please avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Thank you for your patience.”
New UpdatesView PostView PostView PostToday08:10 BST
A map shows the location of the Tata Steel site in Port Talbot.
Tata Steel began steel production in the eastern Indian city of Jamshedpur in 1912 and expanded globally through its acquisition of Corus in 2007.
Corus was formed in 1999 through the merger of British Steel plc – originally established as the nationalised British Steel Corporation in 1967 and privatised in 1988 – and the Dutch company Koninklijke Hoogovens.
Eliana NunesToday08:03 BST
Tata Steel carried out a controlled demolition of a gas holder at the Port Talbot site earlier on Wednesday evening.
There is no suggestion the demolition, which the company said was carried out safely, is linked to the ongoing incident at the steelworks. Local residents reported their homes “shook” when the gas holder was brought down.
Shortly after the demolition, the company said: “People working and living in the Port Talbot area may have just heard a loud noise emanating from the Port Talbot steelworks.
“This was the result of the planned demolition of the empty, redundant coke ovens gas holder, which has been completed safely as part of the ongoing engineering works on the site. The gas holder ceased operation with the closure of the site’s heavy-end in September 2024.
“This demolition was required to make space for future raw materials handling areas for the new three million tonne per year capacity electric arc furnace.
“Our thanks goes to the whole team involved from Tata Steel and our contractor partners Thompson of Prudhoe and PDC, in what was a complex programme of work. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Eliana NunesToday08:00 BST
A resident living on Beechwood Road in Port Talbot told Wales Online late last night: “The alarm has been going off from around 7pm, shortly thereafter we saw billows of smoke coming from the site directly towards our house.
“No residents here were informed of the controlled explosion that was going on in the works this afternoon at 6.30pm and we only knew about it after the blast. Tata posted about ongoing noise 20 minutes after the explosion.
“At one point this afternoon, you couldn’t see the front gardens from the front windows it was so smoggy outside.”
Eliana NunesToday07:51 BST
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident at Tata Steel, Port Talbot. Large plumes of smoke are visible in the area.
“Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed. Please avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible. Thank you for your patience.”