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Several Injured in Explosion in TX Plastics Plant
At least six people were injured in an explosion and fire at the Formosa Plastics plant in Point Comfort, Texas. The flames and smoke could be seen from miles away. There are no reports of fatalities, but at least one of the injured workers was flown to UTMB in Galveston. Two more were taken by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca. Hospital spokeswoman Pat Trigg described their injuries as minor. Nonie Cody's husband works at the plant. She said he called her to let her know he was OK. "There was a huge explosion down there," Cody said via e-mail. "He said there was a fire and lots of black smoke." The plant was evacuated and a shelter-in-place was issued for residents of Point Comfort and nearby Port Lavaca. Students at Point Comfort Elementary School were evacuated to HJM Elementary in Port Lavaca as a precaution. The flames were still raging out of control more than two hours after the initial explosion.
The explosion happened at the Olefins 2 unit at the plant which makes PVC and vinyl. "Big black smoke coming up and we're sitting here watching the smoke kinda go over the bay," said Port Lavaca City Manager Jerry Broz. One witness e-mailed 11 News to say she could see smoke from 40 miles away. And a woman in Kemah said she and several neighbors "heard and felt a strong explosion" even though they're 120 miles away from Point Comfort. The explosion happened at the Olefins 2 unit at the plant which makes PVC and vinyl. The blast at the Formosa Plastics facility caused the Port Lavaca causeway, state Highway 35 and Farm-to-Market Road 1593 to close. Point Comfort and Port Lavaca are in Calhoun County. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the blast. Posted by: lotp 2005-10-06 |
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