A second blast at Houston's plant east sent fire and a tower piece into the sky. Residents are now being evacuated the night before Thanksgiving.

PORT NECHES, Texas - On Wednesday, concerns of new explosions led authorities in south-east Texas to order the evacuation of more than 54,000 people near a chemical plant where at least eight people were injured by a powerful overnight blast.

The evacuation order includes many cities within four miles of the Port Neches, east of Houston, Texas Petroleum Chemical plant. On the eve of one of the busiest holiday weekends, the order is expected to send thousands of people in need of shelter.

According to New York Times - The initial explosion at the plant shortly after midnight had sent plumes of fire skyward and rattled nearby neighborhoods; a second blast on Wednesday afternoon launched a ball of fire high into the sky, prompting the new evacuation order on Wednesday afternoon.

The second explosion sent a tower at the plant “like a missile” toward a local high school, said Jeff Branick, the judge of Jefferson County who oversees the county’s Office of Emergency Management.

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"The question is that if another — and there's a lot left — were to release and go to the tank farm, the consequences would be disastrous," said Judge Branick in an interview.

The evacuation order from Jefferson County authorities included all those living in Port Neches, along with the cities of Groves, Nederland and the northern part of Port Arthur.

The initial blast, just before 1 a.m., happened as about 30 people were working at the plant. Two employees and a contractor were injured, but all were later released from a hospital, company officials said. Five residents were also injured by flying glass, according to the Office of Emergency Management.

The blast shook residents awake and turned the night sky orange with fire. It was not clear what caused the first explosion, which happened in an area of the plant that processes a colorless gas known as butadiene used in the production of synthetic rubber and other products.

In Port Neches, a city of about 13,000, residents described the bewilderment and fear of waking up to a blast and the sight of flames.

“I thought I was dreaming,” said Kym Johns, 48, whose home is separated from the plant only by a street and a vacant field. Her garage doors caved in. Sheetrock fell to the floor. A neighbor was thrown out of his chair, she said.



She and her husband, Daren, fled their home, but they returned later in the morning to pack up some things, trying to avoid breathing in the thick black smoke that was pouring out of the plant. “Right now, I’m scared to breathe the air,” she said.

Regina Marple lives about a 30-minute drive from the plant, but was still shaken awake by the explosion.

“It scared me and I jumped up,” said Ms. Marple, 34. “I’ve never experienced an earthquake, but that’s what I thought it would be like.”

At the time of the explosion, her husband worked at another plant in Port Neches, and Ms. Marple did not immediately know where the explosion took place. She was writing him, but she didn't hear him back immediately. He called her after 15 long minutes, soothing her worst fears.

“I don’t think I took a good breath until I knew he was safe,” she said.

The explosion started a fire that burned unchecked into the day on Wednesday. At about 2 p.m., as wind continued to blow smoke from the plant, a column collapsed, causing the second loud blast, which sent the tower hurtling into the air. Less than an hour and a half later, Judge Branick extended the evacuation zone. Earlier, officials said the fire was too dangerous to approach, so they were instead dousing equipment with water and isolating parts of the plant by cutting off a pipeline.

“I don’t think the focus is really on putting the fire out, it’s letting the materials that are in there burn themselves out and keeping the surrounding tanks cool,” Judge Branick said at a morning news conference.

Mayor Glenn Johnson of Port Neches said he had been awakened by the blast, which damaged his home. He lives in the area close to the plant that has been evacuated.

“I understand what getting blown out of bed means now, because you’re up quick,” Mr. Johnson said.

Source - Nytimes