Authorities send mixed messages about toxic fumes following blasts at flooded Texas chemical plant
Residents near the Arkema Plant have been told to stay away from their homes due to a looming chemical explosion
A Houston-area chemical plant that lost power after Harvey engulfed the area in floods was rocked by two explosions and set on fire early on Thursday, but local authorities said the resulting smoke presented “no danger to the community at all”.
Arkema said in a statement on its website that the Harris County Emergency Operations Centre reported two explosions and black smoke coming from the plant in Crosby, about 40km northeast of Houston, at about 2am.
At a news conference, Rich Rennard, an Arkema executive, said the remaining chemicals are volatile and that more combustion is likely.
He said the company anticipates that the eight remaining containers “where products are starting to degrade will produce more explosions”.
Earlier, Assistant Harris County Fire Chief Bob Royall said organic peroxides in an articulated truck caught fire not long after midnight and the fire emitted a 12-metre-high flames and black smoke.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez says some deputies suffered irritated eyes from the smoke but insisted it wasn’t dangerous.
“It is not anything toxic,” Gonzalez said. “It is not anything that we feel is a danger to the community at all.”
