One person was killed and more than seventy injured in an explosion and fire this morning at a Louisiana chemical plant, according to news sources.
The blast took place at the Williams Chemical Plant in Ascension Parish. The fire at the petrochemical company’s site is said to be extinguished.
At least 300 workers were evacuated, while ten people were forced to shelter in a safe room at the plant.
Local police and fire departments, Homeland Security, and the parish Office of Emergency Preparedness responded to the scene.
According to its website, 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of propylene are produced at the facility each year.
The cause of the explosion and the potential effect upon the area surrounding the site has not yet been determined.
