On Thursday, two explosions occurred at a Chemical Plant in Crosby, Texas, which was flooded due to Hurricane Harvey, the Guardian reported. Because the plant lost power during the floods, there is no word if toxic emissions are being produced in the area. It was the fifth day of the devastating tropical storm and a series of disasters have knocked down Texas.
No harm to locals
The chemical manufacturer Arkema, where blasts happened, said that there was no release of chemicals but still a possibility of the explosion in eight other tanks. An executive at Arkema Rich Rennard said that "we believe at this point that the safest thing to do is to allow the other eight containers, the product in those, to degrade and burn." He also added that the chemicals in the plant burn very fast, so it would be strange for them to blast, NPR reported.
The company said that the public safety office in Houston was notified around 2 am about the two explosions. Fifteen sheriff's deputies of Harris County were taken to the hospital for inhaling the smoke, but the department said it was not harmful smoke.
All the deputies were discharged from the hospital on Thursday night. The evacuation of the locals living within a 1.5-mile radius of the plant had been ordered by Harris County, according to CNN.
The plant produces organic peroxides
Arkema's plant produces organic peroxides which are used in producing plastic-based materials such as polystyrene, and paints. The company said that organic peroxides are highly flammable. They decided to inform the local residents about the products stored in the plant, as they should be aware of the threat of explosion. The company said in a statement, "Please do not return to the area within the evacuation zone."
Brock Long, the administrator of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), said that the flame which came out of blasts was hazardous.
The environmental agency for the state of Texas requested people to stay inside their homes and close all the windows with the running air conditioning. The officials also said that they went to the people who live in the rural area surrounding the explosion zone, and informed them about the threat.
The company shut down the plant last week, but some employees remained on the site to track the safety of the chemical.
Some parts of Texas have been hit by more 50 inches of rainfall because of Hurricane Harvey, which came on August 25. The hurricane turned into a tropical storm on Wednesday. Rescue teams and firefighters were searching for the survivors and recovering the dead bodies on Thursday in Houston.