Two explosions have been reported from a flooded chemical plant in a small town outside of Houston, media reports said today.
Local emergency officials today reported two explosions at a flooded chemical plant in the Texas town of Crosby, reports said citing operators Arkema Inc.
"At approximately 2 am CDT (0700 GMT), we were notified by the Harris County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of two explosions and black smoke coming from the Arkema Inc plant in Crosby, Texas," the company statement said.
As a precautionary measure officials had already ordered the evacuation of an area within three kilometers of the organic peroxides plant, which operators had said was at risk of exploding due to a "critical issue" triggered by monster storm Harvey's torrential rains.
The Arkema Inc. plant in Crosby, Texas, about 25 miles (40.23 kilometers) northeast of Houston, lost power and its backup generators amid Harvey’s days-long deluge, leaving it without refrigeration for chemicals that become volatile as the temperature rises.
“The fire will happen. It will resemble a gasoline fire. It will be explosive and intense in nature,” spokeswoman Janet Smith had told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
