Explosion at US Chemical Plant, Residents Told to Stay Indoors
A fire at a Louisiana chemical plant triggered explosions that shook homes several miles away and sent flames and smoke billowing into the air, prompting emergency officials to urge a few hundred nearby residents to shelter indoors for several hours and to turn off their air conditioners.
Flames erupted late Friday at Dow Chemical’s plant on the Mississippi River near Plaquemine, south of Baton Rouge.
Iberville Parish officials told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate that the fire started in an area of the plant that handles ethylene oxide, a flammable and highly carcinogenic chemical.
The parish’s sheriff, Bret Stassi, said no one was injured and that the company had accounted for all its workers.
Residents of roughly 350 households within a half-mile of the plant were told to shelter inside for several hours overnight.
As Dow Chemical and environmental officials monitored the air for hazardous materials, emergency officials urged sheltering residents to shut off their air conditioners and ceiling fans.
The Iberville Parish Council said in a statement early Saturday that no hazards had been detected and that people could leave their homes as Dow’s emergency crews “continue to mitigate the fire.”
The sheriff told WBRZ-TV that six explosions were detected at the plant around 9:30 p.m. Friday.
🚨#BREAKING: Massive explosion reported at the Dow Chemical Plant
There has been a massive explosion at the Dow Chemical Plant in Plaquemine, Louisiana. Emergency crews and other agencies are currently responding to the situation. Officials are… pic.twitter.com/YVMkxz6SzU
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 15, 2023
Tall flames could be seen rising from the site, with thick smoke overhead.
Residents felt their homes shake in Baton Rouge, about 15 miles away, WAFB-TV reported.
WATCH: Incredible new video of the explosion at Dow Chemical in Plaquemine on Friday night as seen from Addis.
🎥: Ashley Cory Carpenter pic.twitter.com/soiXpHwNnJ
— Steve Caparotta, Ph.D. (@SteveWAFB) July 15, 2023
Kenneth Haydel said he was with family members near the plant when they heard several loud explosions a few seconds apart.
“We looked up in the sky and the whole sky was lit up orange,” Haydel said.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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