Explosions rock Texas City refinery
Texas City, TX
A shelter in place was issued for residents in Texas City after a series of explosions rocked the area. That shelter-in-place has since been lifted.Petrol at an 87 octane rating was $1.599 today in KC.
According to eyewitnesses the blast at the BP Amoco chemical plant occurred around 6:30pm. Some witnesses say there were at least four explosions - the fourth being the loudest. But BP officials say there was only one.
According to B.C. Clawson with the Texas City Emergency Management, the fire occurred in the furnace area. After the explosion, hydrocarbon feed stock was burning off.
It doesn't appear the smoke is toxic, but authorities issued a shelter in place order. That order has since been lifted. However, State Highway 146 near the plant remains closed. City officials say the fire is now contained.
'We're about five miles away where the incident occurred and we were standing out on the porch and saw the explosion and saw a big burst of flames right off the bat,' said eyewitness Steve Letterman.
All workers have been accounted for, and no injuries have been reported.
Homeland security officials say they were monitoring the situation in Texas City, but the FBI tells us agents responded to the scene and they're sure it was simply an industrial accident. Petrochemical plants in the Houston area have been identified as a possible al-Qaida target, but Tuesday night's incident was not terror related.
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