This image from television shows smoke rising above the Buncefield oil terminal in Leverstock Green near Hemel Hempstead early Sunday morning Dec. 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Sky TV via APTN)
"...All indications at this stage are that this was an accident," said Frank Whiteley, the county's chief of police told a news conference.
"However, clearly we will keep an open mind, as with all investigations, until we can confirm that for certain."
Earlier rumours that an aircraft was heard flying low overhead before the first explosion were unfounded, police said.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom and felt their homes shake when the first blast happened shortly after 6:00 a.m. GMT, as well as another two explosions that followed within half an hour.
Britons have been on edge since July's deadly transit bombings in London, during which four suicide bombers blew themselves up and killed 52 commuters.
Local resident Richard Ayers said he saw a massive column of smoke billow into the air and said the sheer force of the blasts appeared to blow the roofs off nearby houses.
"It is like it is doomsday," he told the BBC.
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"...Eye witnesses described a series of massive explosions at the Buncefield oil depot, just after 6:00 a.m. British time, spewing flames and a column of black smoke, smashing house windows and causing widespread damage..."
Whiteley said there were around 36 casualties, about four of whom suffered serious injuries.
"At the moment it looks as if we got off a lot more lightly than you would expect with an explosion of this size...".
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"...The Buncefield site, which usually operates 24 hours a day, is also used by BP, Shell and British Pipeline..."
"Firm details of the incident are not yet known.
It is believed at this stage that the explosions were the result of an accident..."
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Large explosions at fuel depot an "accident" Sun Dec 11, 2005 11:32 AM GMT
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