One person has been killed and four have been taken to hospital following a ‘serious accident’ at an oil refinery in Nieuwdorp in Zeeland.

The accident happened during maintenance work, but refinery officials have not given further details. The dead person worked for a subcontractor at the refinery.

Four ambulances and specialist fire brigade vehicles were dispatched to the scene as well as an air ambulance, local broadcaster Omroep Zeeland reported.

Police and government inspectors are now trying to establish exactly what happened.

The Zeeland Refinery makes fuels and other products from crude oil and is in the process of building new hydrogen plant where hydrogen will be produced by the electrolysis of water.