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- A van has exploded near Westquay with a huge fireball witnessed by passers-by
- The vehicle was parked near the Podium car park
- Food court workers in Westquay have been evacuated
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A sunny morning in Southampton yesterday quickly descended into chaos after a shock explosion saw hundreds evacuated from the city’s largest shopping centre.
Staff and shoppers at Westquay ran for cover at around 9.30am on Wednesday after a van carrying gas cannisters was engulfed in flames and exploded.
A fireball rose into the sky from outside the entrance to the Podium car park on Harbour Parade.
Hampshire fire service confirms cause of van explosion
A statement from Hampshire fire to the Echo confirmed the cause of the van explosion this morning.
Firefighters also told the Echo that the van was not an electric vehicle.
READ MORE: Westquay van explosion: Fire service confirms cause | Daily Echo
In the aftermath of the fire, blackened canisters can be seen littering the van's bed, surrounded by twisted metal on either side.
The start of the Acculine logo has almost entirely been scorched from the side of the vehicle.
Even the Westquay sign above the van is showing damage and has been blackened by the fire.
Shoppers are now being allowed to re-enter Westquay.
Shoppers have been allowed back into Westquay after a huge explosion nearby forced an evacuation.
— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) March 19, 2025
Follow live updates: https://t.co/iJrEiDakQ5 pic.twitter.com/Yk9n6gOVii
One shopper said: "My car has been locked in the podium car park for hours.
"I came here this morning and then went to do a bit of shopping before work on the High Street.
"Now I’m an hour late to my shift and I don’t understand what’s taking so long."
Crowds gathered across the road from the fire.
The van belongs to the line marking company Acculine:
Mansfield-based Acculine has now confirmed that the van is theirs.
A spokesperson for the company says that nobody was hurt, and the driver is understood to be safe.
The spokesperson said: "Nothing has been confirmed.
"There haven't been any injuries, everybody is safe.
"It is with the police and fire service now."
READ MORE: Westquay van fire: Acculine issues statement after explosion
The Fire Service has confirmed the blaze was accidental:
A spokesperson for the Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "This morning, crews responded to a significant vehicle fire at Westquay Southampton.
"The incident, which began just after 9.30am, involved a vehicle containing cylinders that exploded.
"Fire crews from St Mary’s, Redbridge, and Hightown attended the scene, using three jets and three hose reels to bring the blaze under control.
"The fire completely destroyed the vehicle and caused heat and smoke damage to the entrance of the Westquay car park.
"Ventilation fans were deployed to clear the remaining smoke.
"The fire has been confirmed as accidental, and the scene has now been handed over to the police.
"We would like to thank everyone for their patience and cooperation during this incident."
Westquay set to be closed for another hour, security have told disgruntled shoppers outside the centre.
Staff have been allowed back in, however.
Fire engines have left the scene.
But the area around the Podium car park entrance remains cordoned off with police cars and officers cordoning the scene.
The roundabout on Harbour Parade, by Mamas & Papas, is now open to drivers.
The fire service is putting barriers across the entrance to the car park.
Tape is being removed from the road.
At the height of the incident, there were four fire engines on the scene.
Currently, two remain.
Further update from the fire service:
A spokesperson for the Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "The fire is now out but there remains smoke in the area and crews are currently working to clear this.
"We expect to have a presence on site for some time until the incident is fully resolved.
"The road closure remains in place. We thank everyone for their patience while we deal with this matter."
These dramatic pictures taken by Jack Glennie show firefighters working to tackle the blaze.
One man, who did not want to be named, but works from home near West Quay, said: “I was sat here and heard this massive explosion, and I looked outside my window and saw this massive plume of smoke. I was shocked.
“I thought West Quay South was on fire at first.
“I didn’t see much because it was on the other side of the building from me.”
West Quay closed after evacuation:
A security guard at the scene has confirmed that the shopping centre was evacuated, and they do not know when it will be back open.
People are being asked to avoid the area.
The Harbour Parade is closed in both directions.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Statement:
A spokesperson said: "Crews from St Mary’s, Redbridge and Hightown are currently in attendance at a vehicle fire following reports of smoke and flames at the back of Westquay, Southampton at just after 9.30am this morning.
"People are asked to avoid the area while emergency services deal with the incident. Harbour Parade is closed in both directions."
'It shook our store it was so loud'.
— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) March 19, 2025
This video from Leanne Proudley shows the van fire outside Westquay moments before it exploded
Follow live updates: https://t.co/iJrEiDakQ5 pic.twitter.com/VJZ93B2bhQ
Our reporter at the scene Ross Marshall says that the the truck is no longer being blasted with water, and hoses are being unplugged.
Here are some more pictures from our reporter at the scene:
READ MORE: Drone pictures at West Quay in Southampton as van explodes in fireball
Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a large plume of smoke, visible across the city, and they expressed their shock at the blaze.
READ MORE: Eye-witnesses reveal moment they saw van explode outside Westquay
Police statement:
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "This was a vehicle fire on Harbour Parade, reported at 9.37am.
"The fire service are leading on this incident and police are assisting with road closures."
Staff from Westquay are speaking with police and firefighters
Lifelong Southampton resident John White said he was walking across the bridge from Southampton Central train station when he heard a huge explosion.
He said: "As I was walking towards the shopping centre, I could see a huge plume of smoke.
"When I turned at the corner, I could see flames reaching the balcony floor around Westquay.
"It was quite shocking as I only came into town to grab a coffee and didn’t expect to see such an emergency response.
"As I started to approach the road, emergency services descended on the scene.
"The bang that was so loud it makes me wonder if the truck was carrying some sort of flammable or explosive equipment."
Passers-by told our reporter of a "huge bang" just before the van went up in flames
A passer-by told the Echo: "A van blew up. I thought it was Westquay South on fire at first."
Westquay food court staff evacuated including McDonald's workers
There is a siren inside the Westquay car park telling people to evacuate, our reporter Ross Marshall says.
Firefighters are tackling the fire
Our reporter @RossMarshall87 is in Harbour Parade today as firefighters tackle a van fire after it exploded
— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) March 19, 2025
More here: https://t.co/iJrEiDakQ5 pic.twitter.com/smRN4Aqhw5
Westquay food court has been evacuated, the Echo understands
Emily Robinson was one her way to work when she heard a loud bang from the train station. She said: “It is a big pillar of smoke. It looks like quite a large fire.
“There seemed to be at one point a big bang. That could have come from the fire.
“There was a fire engine that came down at speed past the bus I was on, so the fire crew are on their way.
“I was just wondering what was really going on. Especially because we have had so many fires recently.”
Delivery driver Sheikh Emad Uddin Billal told the Echo: "I noticed a car on fire with a crowd of people watching - I stopped my motorcycle and make this video as a delivery driver I always pass this way."
This shocking video shows the moment a van exploded outside Westquay
— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) March 19, 2025
Follow latest here: https://t.co/iJrEiDakQ5 pic.twitter.com/jJIf37LJvt
Plumes of smoke can be seen in the sky
Dozens of shocked people are witnessing the firefighters tackling the blaze
Kat Annells said she saw "loads of thick smoke" before "loads of emergency services" headed to the area
Huge explosion near Westquay - live updates
— Daily Echo (@dailyecho) March 19, 2025
Latest: https://t.co/Outk9nfTCJ pic.twitter.com/GbRHh7S54W
Witness Mike Fellows said: "There was a loud bang followed by a lot of dark smoke rising from behind the car park area, I'm uncertain of what area but it appears to be between West Quay and Ikea. Fire engine arrived fairly quickly."
A huge explosion has been seen near Westquay in Harbour Parade, Southampton
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