Explosion at TPC butadiene plant in Texas injures 3

PORT NECHES, Texas—An early morning explosion Nov. 27 at a Port Neches facility of raw materials supplier TPC Group Inc. injured three people, and as of Nov. 29 an evacuation order remained in place for thousands of nearby residents.

Houston-based TPC said two of its employees and a contractor were taken to hospitals after the 1 a.m. explosion in a processing unit at the butadiene plant.

As of Nov. 29, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick and other officials said emergency responders had made progress, but continued to work around the clock to resolve the situation.
Branick asked local residents to comply with the continued evacuation order and not to return to the area. Air monitoring will continue through the remainder of the day and evening. Monitoring results continue to indicate no human health concerns.

In a Nov. 29 update, TPC said the event is "still ongoing."

Cause of the 1 a.m. explosion had not been determined yet.

The company said teams have been dispatched to neighboring communities to conduct air monitoring.

CNN quoted local authorities saying the blast did extensive damage to the small city and that the fire was burning butadiene. The local fire department, CNN said, ordered an evacuation within a half-mile of the plant.

"If you are downwind of the smoke area, please shelter in place," the Port Neches Fire Department posted in a statement on Facebook. "If there are barricades put in place DO NOT move to drive through."

Hours after the explosion, the Port Neches Police Department's Facebook page noted that surrounding communities had provided emergency first response assistance. It also encouraged area residents to watch local media reports for updates and safety information.

"There's extensive damage throughout the city," the Port Neches Police Department statement read. "Please stay off the roads anywhere near the refineries. Obey all the barricades that are in place. We are doing everything we can to keep everyone safe and informed."

Residents living in the Port Neches area took to social media to share their experiences with the blast. Some shared footage from their home surveillance cameras that showed footage of the blast as it occurred.

"At this time, we cannot speak to the cause of the incident or the extent of the damage, but TPC is assembling a team to conduct a full and thorough investigation," the company said earlier. "Emergency responders are still working to bring the event under control."

Others shared photos and stories about the explosion and the damage it caused to their homes. Doors reportedly were blown off their hinges, ceilings collapsed and windows were smashed when the blast occurred.

Meanwhile, Huntsman, a The Woodlands, Texas-based chemical manufacturer, posted a statement on Twitter pledging support to TPC employees and emergency responders.

Port Neches is about 90 miles east of Houston.