Following the partial building collapse of Didcot A Power Station on Tuesday, Thames Valley Police have now confirmed that the families of the three missing people have visited the site, supported by Family Liaison Officers.
Didcot Power Station’s cooling towers Mike de Sousa © 2013
This follows an “explosion” and collapse of a building at the Oxfordshire power station, in which one person died. He has been named on social media as Michael (Mick) Collings, the BBC has reported.
Five casualties were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital on Tuesday, and the search continues for three people still missing.
The families of those missing had the opportunity to speak to Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service about the search operation.
Chief Fire Officer Dave Etheridge, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We remain committed and determined to return the missing people to their families, and work continues overnight.
“We are working with structural engineers and demolition experts to establish a safe way of working on site. In addition the military is supporting the search for the missing people. They will be using a mini remote control vehicle to assist with the search for survivors at the site.
“This provides us with enhanced capability and their equipment and expertise will be invaluable.”
Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Scott Chilton said: “We are continuing to work with the Health and Safety Executive and all the emergency services to understand the cause of this incident.”
South Central Ambulance Service remains on site to deal with any recovered casualties, it was said on Wednesday evening.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, David Cameron sent his “sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim and best wishes to the injured and those still missing”.
Ministerial meetings on the matter had already taken place with further meetings taking place later, he said.
An Npower spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that shortly after 16:00 part of the boiler house at our former Didcot A power station site in Oxfordshire collapsed while an external demolition contractor was working in it.
“Our thoughts are with the families of all those involved in this tragedy.”
Coleman and Company, the firm behind the demolition, tweeted that it was “working with all stakeholders to establish facts” and it urged concerned relatives of employees to get in touch.
South Oxfordshire District Council Environmental Health has confirmed there are no air quality issues associated with the dust cloud that formed following the incident.
