One person killed in power station collapse in England

OXFORDSHIRE, England, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- At least one person was killed and three are still missing after a decommissioned power station in southern England apparently collapsed Tuesday.

The Guardian quoted fire and rescue workers as saying another five people were injured when the building collapsed at the Didcot Power Station, a combined coal and oil power plant in Oxfordshire that was closed in March 2013.

The BBC quoted a spokesman with RWE npower, the company that owns the plant, as describing the collapse as "a major incident."

Searches are underway to locate three people still unaccounted for.

Witnesses described hearing an explosion and seeing large amounts of dust. Demolition work was reportedly underway at the facility.

However, firefighters said the collapse, while premature, was not due to an explosion. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

The Oxfordshire County Council released a statement saying there are no hazardous materials in the building, but the Council nonetheless advised residents to remain indoors with the windows closed.