Explosion at Chemical Plant in Geismar, LA
One person is dead — and more than 70 others are hurt in an explosion and fire at a chemical plant in Geismar, in Ascension parish.
It happened around 8:30 this morning at the Williams Olefins Plant, which is located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans and sits along the Mississippi River.
The fire is out, but controlled burns are taking place, causing smoke to continue to rise. The plant makes highly flammable gases used in various chemical manufacturing processes. The sheriff says they have the situation under control.
Tests haven’t found anything alarming in the air, and officials believe the fire burned it all up. OSHA is now investigating the blast.
600 people were inside the plant at the time of the blast. It’s believed they’ve all been accounted for.
KLAX ABC 31 News 6/13/13
Chemical Plant Explosion scenes courtesy of WBRZ Baton Rouge.
