A spokesperson from Cheshire East council told ITV that there were “multiple casualties” and “reports up to five people are trapped in the building, which is on fire”.
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A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Our staff are continuing to work closely with other emergency services on scene at this hard incident to ensure patients receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible”.
“It is also advised to avoid the area while we deal with this incident”.
Tunstall Road in Bosley was closed following the incident, police said, and they warned that traffic on the A523 might be delayed.
At present, 50 firefighters are reported to be at the scene trying to control the fire.
Four people are still unaccounted for and a four-storey building has collapsed after several explosions at the site.
“It is believed at this stage that four people are trapped”, a spokesman said.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, Paul Hancock, said: “This is a hard and demanding incident”.
Eyewitness Charli Alston, 18, described “massive plumes of flames”, reaching into the sky and hearing a “huge bang” as she walked her dog nearby this morning.
“At this stage, it is too early for us to confirm the number of casualties”. “We could see the flames rising not far from us down the road from the mill“, she said.
She told Sky News: “The house completely shook. Thought it was an earthquake”.
Smoke is understood to be billowing from the scene, south of Macclesfield.
Cheshire Police Force tweeted that all emergency services were on site and warned local residents to close windows and doors because of smoke in the area.
“We have despatched at least six ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two doctors, four managers and the air ambulance to the scene”.
“A further 35 people have also been assessed at a triage unit set up on scene by ambulance staff. None of these were injured and have been discharged on scene”.
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“It is entirely appropriate we have seen a fantastic response from the emergency services and the council”. I can’t imagine how the houses nearer the site took it. Police said there might be chemicals at the plant.
