Large chemical explosion engulfs Victorian factory
Communities in Melbourne’s west are being warned to look out for smoke after a factory was engulfed in flames after a large chemical explosion, AAP reports.
Firefighters were called to the fire at the Swann Drive address in Derrimut, about 30km from the Melbourne CBD, about 11.20am.
A large chemical explosion at the factory has resulted in a large fire that is being tackled by several specialist fire crews including aerial equipment.
A community advice warning has been issued for Albion, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Derrimut, Laverton North, Sunshine, Sunshine West, Tottenham and Truganina.
There is no threat to the community, but people have been urged to monitor conditions. Drivers in the area have been told to keep their windows up and ventilation on recirculate. Paramedics are also on the scene.
A significant amount of back smoke is visible around Derrimut and Sunshine West, due to a factory fire. Motorists in the area, including the Western Freeway and M80 Ring Road, should keep their ventilation on recirculate and windows up. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/8G8YJFzAcy
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) July 10, 2024
Key events
VicTraffic says the Western Freeway (Deer Park Bypass) is now closed in both directions between the M80 Ring Road and Robinsons Road, amid the factory fire.
Use Ballarat Road or Fitzgerald Road to connect with the M80 Ring Road. Allow plenty of extra travel time.
The Western Freeway (Deer Park Bypass) is now closed in both directions between the M80 Ring Road and Robinsons Road, due to a factory fire. Use Ballarat Road or Fitzgerald Road to connect with the M80 Ring Road. Allow plenty of extra travel time. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/XRFSWoSiB4
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) July 10, 2024
Watch and act alert issued for Derrimut factory fire as wind blows toxic smoke
VicEmergency has now issued a watch and act alert for the Derrimuit factory fire.
It says wind is blowing toxic smoke towards the east across Derrimut, and anyone located in the area affected by smoke should take shelter indoors “immediately”.
Close all exterior doors and windows. Close vents and ensure heating and cooling systems are turned off.
If you are away from home do not return.
Affected areas include Albion, Braybrook, Brooklyn, Derrimut, Laverton North, Sunshine, Sunshine West, Tottenham and Truganina.
Another social media user has captured these images of the factory fire from inside an aeroplane, as they came in to land at Melbourne Airport.
We flew right next to the smoke plume.
One social media user has shared a video from driving near the Derrimut factory fire, stating “we felt the fire heat inside the car”.
The traffic lights are out at an intersection nearby the Derrimut factory fire.
VicTraffic says the traffic lights are out at the intersection of Mt Derrimut and Australis Drive, “due to a fault”.
Technicians are working to rectify the issue. Please obey the rules of an intersection with a Stop or Give Way sign.
Australis Drive is around 2km from Swann Drive, where the factory fire continues to burn and send plumes of dark smoke into the air.
Meanwhile, all outbound lanes of the Western Freeway are now closed between the M80 Ring Road and Robinsons Road. VicTraffic said inbound lanes remain open for now, but with heavy delays.
All outbound lanes of the Western Freeway are closed between the M80 Ring Road and Robinsons Road, due to a factory fire. Use the M80 Ring Road and Ballarat Road instead. Inbound lanes remain open for now but with heavy delays. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/UuxnycAfXD
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) July 10, 2024
New report finds governments at all levels across Australia failing on racism
A new report has found that governments across Australia are failing to adequately identify and address racism, and that there is a lack of coordination between governments, agencies and sectors.
The report – produced for the Australian Human Rights Commission by PwC Indigenous Consulting and the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS – identified a lack of political bipartisanship as an obstacle to action.
It outlined how negatively racialised communities are “forced to compete with one another for funding to support affected communities” and that there is little focus on addressing racism against First Nations communities.
The race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, said:
If some areas of government are reluctant to use the term ‘racism’, how can they tackle it?
Australia needs a national plan to address racism and this plan needs to be a whole-of-society approach, which coordinates efforts at all levels of government and across all sectors. It needs to set benchmarks and measure outcomes and, importantly, it needs to centre those impacted by racism.
Recent ruptures in our society have seen dramatic rises in racism towards First Nations peoples, antisemitism, anti-Asian racism, anti-Arab racism and Islamophobia. This shows systemic failures to deal with racism.
Australia has national plans to tackle problems like mental health, child abuse and domestic violence. Our current ad-hoc approach towards racism is not good enough.
He said the commission would soon release a proposal for a national framework to tackle racism.
Adeshola Ore
No reports of injuries amid Derrimut factory fire, police say
Victoria police confirmed its officers have responded to an explosion and subsequent fire at a commercial property in Derrimut, in Melbourne’s west.
In a statement, police say emergency services were called to reports of the incident at Swann Drive at about 11.20am:
Firefighters are working to bring the significant blaze under control.
Police said there were no reports of injuries:
It is believed everyone inside the premises [was] evacuated safely.
Traffic in the area is expected to be impacted for some time with Swann Drive closed as well as westbound traffic on the Deer Park bypass being stopped for safety.
A spokesperson with Melbourne airport has confirmed that, at this stage, there are no impacts to operations at the airport from the Derrimut factory fire and subsequent smoke.
Residents urged to avoid Derrimut chemical factory fire
Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority says its officers are on the way to the chemical factory fire in Derrimut, Melbourne, which we flagged earlier.
VicTraffic says the fire is continuing to spread “thick black smoke across the western suburbs.” People are being urged to avoid the industrial estate south of the Western Freeway, keep their car ventilation on recirculate and their windows up.
An ongoing significant factory fire in Swann Drive, Derrimut is spreading thick black smoke across the western suburbs. Avoid the industrial estate south of the Western Freeway. Keep your car ventilation on recirculate and windows up. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/EyGK6q3Qcz
— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) July 10, 2024
Here are some images of the smoke that have been shared to social media:
Alleged university stabber committed to stand trial
The man accused of stabbing two women and attacking other students on a university campus will stand trial after pleading not guilty due to mental impairment, AAP reports.
Alex Ophel has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two of common assault and one of possessing an object with the intent to kill or cause grievous bodily harm.
Ophel has been remanded in custody and will appear before the ACT supreme court on 17 July after a mental health assessment was conducted for the magistrates court.
He was accused of repeatedly stabbing two women and bashing other students over the head with a frying pan during a September 2023 attack at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Fiona Coffey, the mother of student Ilysha Perry who Ophel allegedly stabbed, has said her daughter would have serious long-term issues and would not be the same.
