2 explosions at Texas
Blasts reported near chemical plant, more threats likely; water recedes
Two explosions were reported at a flooded Texas chemical plant near storm-battered Houston on Thursday, just as the region began its slow recovery following Harveys onslaught.
Operators at the Arkema Inc facility said the Harris County Emergency Operations Center notified them at approximately 2 am CDT (0700 GMT), of “two explosions and black smoke” rising from the plant in Crosby, a town about 25 miles northeast of Houston.
Arkema warned that “a threat of additional explosion remains,” and urged people to stay out of the evacuation zone.
The Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office in a later tweet confirmed “a series of chemical reactions at the @Arkema_Inc Crosby facility,” which manufactures organic peroxides that can combust if not cooled to proper temperatures. The incident confirmed the fears of operators who had already ordered the evacuation of an area within 1.5 miles (three km) of the plant, which operators had said was at risk of exploding due to a “critical issue” triggered by monster storm Harvey’s torrential rains.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said one deputy had been taken to the hospital after inhaling fumes from the plant, with nine others driving themselves there “as precaution.”
In a later tweet the sheriff's office said company officials said “the smoke inhaled by 10 deputies near plant in Crosby is beloved to be a non-toxic irritant.”
But Arkema also said in a statement that “exposure to organic peroxides may cause eye, skin and/or respiratory irritation”.