THE massive explosion which ripped through Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday was so strong it was even felt by people in Ealing.
Bozena King, 56, of Creffield Road, Ealing, was shaken awake by the blast at the depot.
"It was really horrible," she said. "The first thing I thought was there had been another bomb in Ealing. I heard a bang and it felt as though someone had pushed me.
"The windows had shuddered and then it was quiet.
"I looked at the clock and it was 6.03am," she added.
"In the morning it was all over the news so obviously it was the explosion but we are so far away. I can't believe how powerful it was. I'm very glad we don't live closer."
Forty-three people were injured when a wave of explosions ripped through the UK's fifth largest fuel depot just after 6am.
Most of the 180 schools closed in the wake of the blaze have now reopened and residents living near the plant have nearly all returned home.
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