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| Deadly blast at chemical plant in US state of Louisiana | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least one person has been killed and another 30 injured in an explosion and fire that tore through a chemical plant in the US state of Louisiana. | |
| The blast happened at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, south of Baton Rouge, at about 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT), officials said. | The blast happened at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, south of Baton Rouge, at about 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT), officials said. |
| Nearby residents have been told to stay indoors with their windows closed. | Nearby residents have been told to stay indoors with their windows closed. |
| The plant produces flammable gases used in the petrochemical industry. The cause of the blast is unclear. | The plant produces flammable gases used in the petrochemical industry. The cause of the blast is unclear. |
| Louisiana State Police Capt Doug Cain said a body was recovered at the scene by a hazmat (hazardous materials) team and a search was continuing for more victims. | |
| A spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Quality said about 30 people had been taken to hospital by ambulance or helicopter. | |
| Eight of the injured were taken to Baton Rouge Medical Center where one was listed in critical condition and two others were in serious condition. | |
| Tests have not found dangerous levels of chemicals in the air so far, officials said. | |
| Footage from the scene showed a huge pall of black smoke over the plant. Major roads around the site have been sealed off. | Footage from the scene showed a huge pall of black smoke over the plant. Major roads around the site have been sealed off. |
| Witness Daniel Cuthbertson, a fuel lorry operator, said the explosion shook the ground and was followed by a "ball of fire". | |
| He said workers climbed over gates in their scramble to escape the scene. | |
| State police said about 600 people were in the plant at the time. | |
| A statement from Williams said that emergency shut-down valves had been closed at the plant and the unit was isolated. | A statement from Williams said that emergency shut-down valves had been closed at the plant and the unit was isolated. |
| "Our emergency-response crews are thoroughly trained to respond to these types of incidents and are diligently performing their work with their first priority being the safety and well-being of people in and around the area," the statement said. | "Our emergency-response crews are thoroughly trained to respond to these types of incidents and are diligently performing their work with their first priority being the safety and well-being of people in and around the area," the statement said. |
| "We are in the process of accounting for all personnel." | "We are in the process of accounting for all personnel." |
| In April at least 15 people were killed and scores injured by an explosion at a fertiliser plant near Waco in the state of Texas. | In April at least 15 people were killed and scores injured by an explosion at a fertiliser plant near Waco in the state of Texas. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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