Houses across Essex shake for miles after ‘massive explosion’

An ‘enormous explosion’ was heard for miles across Essex (Picture: Metro/Myles Goode/Jordan Sullivan) Essex Fire Service has responded to a ‘large industrial unit fire’ at Highlands Farm that caused a series of ‘enormous explosions’ that could be heard for miles. The first blast was heard at around 5.45pm. A statement released this evening read: ‘We’re currently at the scene of a large industrial unit fire in Southend Road between East Hanningfield and Rettendon. ‘If you live or are travelling nearby, please keep your windows and doors closed. ‘Please avoid the area if you can.’ Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens. The cause of the fire is unknown, and it is unclear whether anyone has been injured, but it has taken more than 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze, a second update confirmed. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘Over 100 firefighters are working to extinguish the fire in Southend Road. Please continue to avoid the area, and keep your windows and doors closed if you live nearby,’ an Essex Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said later this evening. East of England Ambulance Service added that it was responding to a ‘significant incident’ and urged those living locally to ‘follow the advice of the fire service’. The initial focus was on preventing the flames from spreading to neighbouring commercial units and farm buildings. Pictures obtained by Metro from South Woodham Ferrers and Rayleigh show a huge plume of brown and orange smoke, with a resident saying the explosion ‘shook the windows’ of their house. Taking to social media, others near and far shared footage of the smoke and described what they felt, likening the sound to that of a ‘bomb going off’. @TheHonLady wrote on X that their ‘whole house’ trembled, while @GreggWayling said their ‘windows rattled’ after the ‘boom’. It’s taken 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze (Picture: Metro/Myles Goode) Residents are being reminded to close their windows and doors (Picture: Ellie-Ivy Nihil) Adrian Walker, 46, from Ashenden, told BBC News: ‘The ground shook, buildings shook, windows rattled, birds flew off – and I am 15 miles away.’ David Harris, from nearby Rayleigh, compared the explosion to ‘like someone had dropped a pile of bricks’ outside his window, and Matthew Fergusson, from Wickford, saw a ‘mushroom cloud’ towering into the sky. ‘I thought someone had dropped something heavy upstairs, but when I went outside, the whole street was out.’ A business owner shared with MyLondon that the sky turned ‘black’ outside their restaurant, Royal Tiger, with indoor diners ‘understandably scared’ when the vibrations began. ‘We all thought the explosion came from our kitchen because it was very loud,’ they said. Smoke has been seen as far as various parts of South Essex, Chelmsford, and Maldon, with Southend Road experiencing severe disruption. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: First picture of teenage girl who drowned trying to save little cousin from sea Arrow MORE: Motorcyclist narrowly avoids head-on crash with lorry driving the wrong way Arrow MORE: Naked cyclist ‘attacked by men on e-scooter’ during charity ride News Updates Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.