Milk tank explodes

A tank containing up to 150,000 litres of processed milk whey blew apart in Kaikoura yesterday.

Environment Canterbury said the tank exploded as a contractor was off-loading whey into a mobile tanker.

"The explosion occurred three or four kilometres west of the New Zealand Milk Products dairy factory," a regional council spokesman said. The contractor was believed to be unhurt.

Environment Canterbury is investigating the effect of the accident.