Inspenet, July 15, 2023
Plaquemine, LA – Terrified witnesses describe an ‘apocalyptic’ explosion at the Dow Chemicals chemical plant in Plaquemine, Louisiana, which has sparked an intense scene of panic and large-scale evacuations.
The Baton Rouge Fire Department reported that alarms went off around 10:00 p.m. local time after a series of six explosions reported by Iberville County Sheriff Brett Stassi. Despite the scale of the fire, no chemical leaks into the Mississippi River have been reported thus far.
The plant, which processes ethylene glycol – a compound made from the potentially carcinogenic ethylene oxide, has raised growing concerns among both the local population and authorities.
To ensure the safety of local residents, around 350 people were evacuated from their homes. Dow Chemicals has deployed its team of experts to monitor air quality and verify the absence of hazardous materials.
“All personnel are safe and secure. Air monitoring has not shown the presence of hazardous materials,” Dow Chemicals said on its official Facebook account.
Huge flames and a shock wave felt several kilometers away have led to the closure of roads around the chemical plant as emergency crews battle to control the blaze. Authorities have advised residents to stay home and turn off ventilation and air conditioning systems until the situation is deemed safe.
This incident comes amid a series of accidents at chemical plants in the region. In the past year, according to nola.com, there was a chlorine leak at the nearby Olin Chemical plant, and in 2019 an explosion was reported in a containment tank at the same Dow facility.
Authorities will continue to provide updates on the developing situation and emergency response at Dow’s Plaquemine chemical plant.
Source: CBS News – ABC News
By: Inspenet TV
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