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International Desk: An explosion at a chemical plant in Texas early Wednesday sent a large fireball into the sky, reports and witnesses said, triggering a mandatory evacuation.<\/p>\nInternational Desk: An explosion at a chemical plant in Texas early Wednesday sent a large fireball into the sky, reports and witnesses said, triggering a mandatory evacuation.<\/p>\n
Dramatic videos and photos shared on social media showed a large blast, with one resident describing waking up to a huge boom and \u201cglass all over us\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ryan Mathewson, who lives roughly two minutes from the plant in Port Neches, near Houston, told AFP: \u201cWe woke up to glass all over us and parts of the ceiling caved in, (and) doors blown in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old said he and his family were \u201cshook up and scared\u201d following the blast.<\/p>\n
County Judge Jeff Branick told local news site KFDM News that there were no fatalities reported and only three people with minor injuries. He called it \u201ca miracle\u201d.<\/p>\n
At least two people have been taken to hospital, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff\u2019s Office told the New York Times.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease be aware that there is a mandatory evacuation for everyone within a 1\/2 mile of the TPC plant in Port Neches,\u201d local fire officials said in a post on the Nederland Volunteer Fire Department\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n
TPC Group, which operates the plant, said the explosion happened in what it said was a \u201cprocessing unit\u201d at around 1am local time (0700 GMT).<\/p>\n
\u201cTPC Group has activated its Emergency Response Plan and requested assistance from Port Neches Fire Department and Huntsman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe event is ongoing, but will be brought under control as quickly and safely as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time, personnel at the site have been evacuated. We have accounted for all site personnel and three personnel have sustained injuries and are being treated.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now our focus is on protecting the safety of responders and the public, and minimizing any impact to the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Port Neches plant is around 85 miles (135 kilometers) from Houston.<\/p>\n
More than 200 people work at the facility, according to TPC Group\u2019s company website.<\/p>\n
The facility produces butadiene, a flammable gas used in the production of synthetic rubber, and other petrochemicals such as butane.<\/p>\n
A shelter for those forced from their homes has been opened at a church in Nederland, local media said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
International Desk: An explosion at a chemical plant in Texas early Wednesday sent a large fireball into the sky, reports and witnesses said, triggering a mandatory evacuation. Dramatic videos and photos shared on social media showed a large blast, with one resident describing waking up to a huge boom and \u201cglass all over us\u201d. Ryan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":56049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n