Fireball erupts in Western Sydney factory after explosion

An explosion at a western Sydney factory sent flames 15 meters towards the sky and a large chemical tank soaring into the air on Saturday night as more than 200 firefighters confronted the blaze.



The Fire and Rescue service in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement on Sunday that a huge fireball erupted as flames took hold just before 11 p.m. Saturday night.



Emergency services were called to reports of the fire at a waste management facility in the suburb of North St Marys, 40 kilometers west of central Sydney.



More than 200 firefighters were sent to the scene where an explosion sent concrete blocks into the air.



The fire had been contained as of Sunday morning, but was expected to continue smoldering throughout the day, with members of the public told to avoid the area.



The cause of the fire has not been identified, and police have asked anyone with information or with dashcam or mobile phone footage to contact investigators.