Massive blast rocks town in South West England (VIDEOS)

An explosion at an industrial estate in South West England has triggered a major emergency response overnight, with multiple fire crews battling a large blaze.

The blast at the Groundwell Industrial Estate in Swindon – a town where construction of a major drone factory is planned – occurred shortly after 7:30pm local time on Wednesday in a building used by a printing company, the BBC confirmed. Witnesses said the explosion shook homes across the town. The fire prompted the evacuation of the estate and the closure of several nearby roads.

At least 12 fire engines and specialist vehicles, including an aerial ladder platform and water carriers, were deployed, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) reported.

Eyewitnesses said flames engulfed the warehouse within minutes. Footage online showed a fireball lighting up the night sky, followed by a thick column of black smoke drifting across north Swindon.

Wiltshire Police described the incident as “serious,” with a large cordon in place. Local residents were asked to remain indoors and close windows due to smoke.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. In a 9:40pm update, DWFRS said a fire investigation officer was on site and would begin work “as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Swindon Borough Council confirmed its emergency response team is working with police and fire crews. “Work is going on to understand what happened, determine if anyone was hurt and make the area safe,” council leader Jim Robbins said.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue said its team remained on standby Thursday morning, unable to enter the site until the blaze was under control. Authorities have reported no casualties and said there is no indication anyone was inside the building.

The blast also caused a power outage affecting about 80 properties, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) reported. The utility said power was isolated “due to a safety concern on our network” following the incident.

Earlier this month, the UK government announced plans for a major drone factory in Swindon. The 254,000 sq ft facility, to be operated by aerospace and defense firm Tekever, will employ about 1,000 staff and is scheduled to open in 2026 to produce surveillance and intelligence drones. There is no indication that Wednesday’s blast is connected to the new site.