United States: Explosions at Houston-area chemical plant August 31

Event

Two explosions occurred around 02:00 (local time) on Thursday, August 31, at the Arkema chemical plant located in Crosby, Texas. At least one person has been injured after inhaling fumes from the explosion.

The chemical factory is located on the outskirts of Houston, a region currently experiencing catastrophic flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey. The factory had been without power since Sunday and the volatile chemicals present in the plant could not be properly refrigerated. The explosions were expected and, as such, the 2.4-km (1.5-mi) radius around the plant has been evacuated since Tuesday. Only a skeleton crew had been left behind.

Advice

Individuals in the United States are advised to avoid the above area, as well as storm-ravaged southeastern Texas more generally, until the situation stabilizes, and to obey all instructions issued by local authorities.