WASHINGTON – Around 60,000 people have been evacuated from the area surrounding Port Neches in Texas, United States after a series of huge explosions at a chemical plant.
Three employees were reportedly injured in the initial explosion.
The first blast at 01:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Wednesday was followed by a series of secondary explosions.
The mandatory evacuation zone covers a 6.4-km (4 mile) radius of the facility, including the towns of Port Neches, Groves, parts of nearby Nederland and Port Arthur.
It is not yet known what caused the blast, which was felt 30 miles.
The plant processes petrochemicals which are used to make rubber and resins. According to the company’s website, it can produce 408,233 tons of chemicals.(BBC)
