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Explosion at Port Neches Chemical Plant Injures 8 in Texas 54,000 Evacuated in Texas After Explosion at Port Neches Chemical Plant
(about 2 hours later)
PORT NECHES, Texas — An explosion at a chemical plant in southeastern Texas early on Wednesday injured at least eight people, shattered the windows of nearby homes and forced residents near the site to flee as orange flames shot into the sky. PORT NECHES, Texas — Fears of new explosions prompted officials in southeast Texas on Wednesday to order the evacuation of more than 54,000 people near a chemical plant where a powerful overnight blast left at least eight people injured.
The blast happened just before 1 a.m. at the Texas Petroleum Chemical plant in Port Neches, east of Houston, when about 30 people were working at the plant. Two employees and a contractor were injured; all were treated at a hospital and released later in the morning, Troy Monk, the company’s director of health, safety and security, said at a news conference. Five residents were injured by flying glass, according to the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management. The evacuation order covers several cities within four miles of the Texas Petroleum Chemical plant in Port Neches, east of Houston. The order was expected to send thousands of people in search of shelter on the eve of one of the busiest holiday weekends.
The initial explosion at the plant shortly after midnight had sent plumes of fire skyward and rattled nearby neighborhoods; a second blast on Wednesday afternoon launched a ball of fire high into the sky, prompting the new evacuation order on Wednesday afternoon.
The blast shook residents awake and turned the night sky orange with fire. It was not clear what caused the explosion, which happened in an area of the plant that processes butadiene, a colorless gas used in the production of synthetic rubber and other products. The second explosion sent a tower at the plant “like a missile” toward a local high school, said Jeff Branick, the judge of Jefferson County who oversees the county’s Office of Emergency Management.
“The concern is that if another one were to launch — and there are a bunch left — and it were to go into the tank farm, the results would be catastrophic,” Judge Branick said in an interview.
The evacuation order from Jefferson County authorities included all those living in Port Neches, along with the cities of Groves, Nederland and the northern part of Port Arthur.
The initial blast, just before 1 a.m., happened as about 30 people were working at the plant. Two employees and a contractor were injured, but all were later released from a hospital, company officials said. Five residents were also injured by flying glass, according to the Office of Emergency Management.
The blast shook residents awake and turned the night sky orange with fire. It was not clear what caused the first explosion, which happened in an area of the plant that processes a colorless gas known as butadiene used in the production of synthetic rubber and other products.
In Port Neches, a city of about 13,000, residents described the bewilderment and fear of waking up to a blast and the sight of flames.In Port Neches, a city of about 13,000, residents described the bewilderment and fear of waking up to a blast and the sight of flames.
“I thought I was dreaming,” said Kym Johns, 48, whose home is separated from the plant only by a street and a vacant field. Her garage doors caved in. Sheetrock fell to the floor. A neighbor was blown out of his chair, she said. “I thought I was dreaming,” said Kym Johns, 48, whose home is separated from the plant only by a street and a vacant field. Her garage doors caved in. Sheetrock fell to the floor. A neighbor was thrown out of his chair, she said.
She and her husband, Daren, fled their home, but they returned later in the morning to pack up some things, trying to avoid breathing in the thick, black smoke that was pouring out of the plant. “Right now, I’m scared to breathe the air,” she said. She and her husband, Daren, fled their home, but they returned later in the morning to pack up some things, trying to avoid breathing in the thick black smoke that was pouring out of the plant. “Right now, I’m scared to breathe the air,” she said.
Regina Marple lives about a 30-minute drive from the plant, but was still shaken awake by the explosion.Regina Marple lives about a 30-minute drive from the plant, but was still shaken awake by the explosion.
“It scared me and I jumped up,” said Ms. Marple, 34. “I’ve never experienced an earthquake, but that’s what I thought it would be like.”“It scared me and I jumped up,” said Ms. Marple, 34. “I’ve never experienced an earthquake, but that’s what I thought it would be like.”
Her husband was working at a different plant in Port Neches at the time of the explosion, and Ms. Marple did not immediately know where the explosion had occurred. She texted him but did not hear back right away. After 15 long minutes, he called her, relieving her worst fears.Her husband was working at a different plant in Port Neches at the time of the explosion, and Ms. Marple did not immediately know where the explosion had occurred. She texted him but did not hear back right away. After 15 long minutes, he called her, relieving her worst fears.
“I don’t think I took a good breath until I knew he was safe,” she said.“I don’t think I took a good breath until I knew he was safe,” she said.
The explosion started a fire that burned unchecked into the day on Wednesday. At about 2 p.m., as wind continued to blow smoke from the plant, a column collapsed, causing another loud blast that sent a ball of fire and fractured equipment into the air. Earlier, officials said the fire was too dangerous to safely approach, so they were instead dousing equipment with water and isolating parts of the plant by cutting off a pipeline. The explosion started a fire that burned unchecked into the day on Wednesday. At about 2 p.m., as wind continued to blow smoke from the plant, a column collapsed, causing the second loud blast, which sent the tower hurtling into the air. Less than an hour and a half later, Judge Branick extended the evacuation zone. Earlier, officials said the fire was too dangerous to approach, so they were instead dousing equipment with water and isolating parts of the plant by cutting off a pipeline.
“I don’t think the focus is really on putting the fire out, it’s letting the materials that are in there burn themselves out and keeping the surrounding tanks cool,” Jeff Branick, the Jefferson County judge who oversees the Office of Emergency Management, said at the morning news conference. “I don’t think the focus is really on putting the fire out, it’s letting the materials that are in there burn themselves out and keeping the surrounding tanks cool,” Judge Branick said at a morning news conference.
Mayor Glenn Johnson of Port Neches said he had been awakened by the blast, which damaged his home. He lives in the area close to the plant that has been evacuated.Mayor Glenn Johnson of Port Neches said he had been awakened by the blast, which damaged his home. He lives in the area close to the plant that has been evacuated.
“I understand what getting blown out of bed means now, because you’re up quick,” Mr. Johnson said.“I understand what getting blown out of bed means now, because you’re up quick,” Mr. Johnson said.
The city is home to several chemical plants. Mr. Johnson praised Texas Petroleum Chemical for the company’s fast response and cooperation with local officials.The city is home to several chemical plants. Mr. Johnson praised Texas Petroleum Chemical for the company’s fast response and cooperation with local officials.
“They’ve always been very good to the city, and we appreciate them, so our hearts go out to them as well,” Mr. Johnson said at a news conference.“They’ve always been very good to the city, and we appreciate them, so our hearts go out to them as well,” Mr. Johnson said at a news conference.
There have been several chemical explosions or fires in recent years at plants clustered in areas of oil-friendly Texas, renewing concerns about the adequacy of health and safety regulations and about environmental effects from the accidents.There have been several chemical explosions or fires in recent years at plants clustered in areas of oil-friendly Texas, renewing concerns about the adequacy of health and safety regulations and about environmental effects from the accidents.
Earlier this year, a disastrous fire burned for days at a petrochemical facility on the outskirts of the Houston metropolitan area. It was followed by another blaze at a chemical plant northeast of Houston that left one person dead and two others critically injured.Earlier this year, a disastrous fire burned for days at a petrochemical facility on the outskirts of the Houston metropolitan area. It was followed by another blaze at a chemical plant northeast of Houston that left one person dead and two others critically injured.
A deadly explosion in 2013 at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas — one of the worst industrial disasters in Texas history — was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 2.1 earthquake, and nearly obliterated an entire neighborhood. In 2016, federal officials found that the fire had been intentionally set.A deadly explosion in 2013 at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas — one of the worst industrial disasters in Texas history — was powerful enough to register as a magnitude 2.1 earthquake, and nearly obliterated an entire neighborhood. In 2016, federal officials found that the fire had been intentionally set.
Another plant, owned by a French chemicals company, exploded in 2017 in Crosby, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, when the city was ravaged by a tropical depression.Another plant, owned by a French chemicals company, exploded in 2017 in Crosby, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Houston, when the city was ravaged by a tropical depression.
Crystal Holmes, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said that it would take time to evaluate whether the Port Neches fire was “a natural or man-made disaster.”Crystal Holmes, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said that it would take time to evaluate whether the Port Neches fire was “a natural or man-made disaster.”
“It looks, just visually, about half of the refinery is on fire,” Ms. Holmes said early on Wednesday.“It looks, just visually, about half of the refinery is on fire,” Ms. Holmes said early on Wednesday.
Mr. Monk, the chemical company’s safety director, said that the large plumes of smoke from the fire might cause respiratory irritation for people nearby.Mr. Monk, the chemical company’s safety director, said that the large plumes of smoke from the fire might cause respiratory irritation for people nearby.
“You don’t want to be downwind from this,” he said.“You don’t want to be downwind from this,” he said.
The facility has about 175 full-time employees and 50 contractors, and spreads across 218 acres of land. All of the employees were accounted for shortly after the explosion, Mr. Monk said. In addition to butadiene, the plant also produces raffinate, a refining byproduct used to make other chemicals. The combined production capacity for the plant is more than 900 million pounds per year, the manufacturer said on its website. The facility has about 175 full-time employees and 50 contractors, and spreads across 218 acres. All of the employees were accounted for shortly after the explosion, Mr. Monk said. In addition to butadiene, the plant also produces raffinate, a refining byproduct used to make other chemicals. The combined production capacity for the plant is more than 900 million pounds per year, the manufacturer said on its website.
Search-and-rescue crews had gone door-to-door in the surrounding neighborhood, Ms. Holmes said. Search-and-rescue crews had gone door to door in the surrounding neighborhood, Ms. Holmes said.
Jared Abshire, who lives with his family less than a mile from the plant, said in a Facebook message on Wednesday, “It woke us up, sounded like a train coming through the house.”Jared Abshire, who lives with his family less than a mile from the plant, said in a Facebook message on Wednesday, “It woke us up, sounded like a train coming through the house.”
Mr. Abshire, 39, a production specialist at Motiva Enterprises, an oil refinery in Port Arthur, said that he and his family had evacuated their house.Mr. Abshire, 39, a production specialist at Motiva Enterprises, an oil refinery in Port Arthur, said that he and his family had evacuated their house.
Ms. Marple said her husband, Kristopher Marple, came home from his job at the neighboring plant and went to sleep. She said she was thanking God that he and the other plant workers in the city were all alive.Ms. Marple said her husband, Kristopher Marple, came home from his job at the neighboring plant and went to sleep. She said she was thanking God that he and the other plant workers in the city were all alive.
“It really brings home the dangers they go through every day,” she said.“It really brings home the dangers they go through every day,” she said.
Margaret Toal reported from Port Neches, Texas, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York. Iliana Magra contributed reporting from London, and Daniel Victor from Hong Kong. Margaret Toal reported from Port Neches, Texas, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs from New York. Reporting was contributed by Jake Frankenfield from New York, Iliana Magra from London and Daniel Victor from Hong Kong.