‘Toxic plume’ as chemical plant blows
ORDEAL Bedridden OAP at the swamped nursing home SAFE Relieved victim, named only as Ashley, and baby TWO explosions rocked a flooded chemical plant outside Houston, sending “incredibly dangerous” fumes into the air.
Officials said they “fully expect” more fires to break out as a further eight containers blow up due to “over pressurisation”.
After the first blasts, which happened just before 1am yesterday, bosses at the Arkema plant in Crosby warned of imminent danger.
As flames rose 40ft in the air and black clouds of smoke spewed out, Arkema said it thought a “non-toxic irritant” had been released and that it “might be irritating to the eyes, skin and lungs”.
But the head of the emergency agency Fema, Brock Long, said: “The plume is incredibly dangerous.”
After it became flooded, the plant was unable to refrigerate chemical compounds that needed to be kept cool and residents within a one-and-ahalf-mile radius of the plant were evacuated.
Fifteen police officers sought hospital treatment after being affected by the smoke.