The Harris County Emergency Operations Center reported two explosions and black smoke early Thursday from a flooded Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, about 25 miles northeast of Houston, the company said in a news release. After the explosions, at about 2 a.m., Harris County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to keep people away from the area; one was taken to the hospital after driving through a plume of smoke and nine others drove themselves to the hospital. The fumes are not expected to be life-threatening, sheriff's department spokesman Jason Spencer told the Houston Chronicle, citing the county fire marshal.
On Wednesday, Arkema's North American chief executive, Rich Rowe, warned that since the main power and backup generators had failed due to flooding at the plant from Super Storm Harvey, tanks of volatile organic peroxides were heating up and "there is no way to prevent an explosion or fire." Harris County authorities ordered an evacuation in a 1.5-mile radius around the Arkema facility. "Based on very early information, residents in nearby area should just shelter in place for the moment," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted at about 5 a.m., adding that he and Spencer were on their way to the plant.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Trump pardons or commutes all charged Jan. 6 riotersSpeed Read The new president pardoned roughly 1,500 criminal defendants charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot
-
Today's political cartoons - January 21, 2025Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - early days, exhaustive executive orders, and more
-
Zimbabwe's walk on the wild side with Yellow Zebra SafarisThe Week Recommends Take a tour of two magnificent national parks with an expert guide
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor dealSpeed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US SteelSpeed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons mergerSpeed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battleSpeed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rallySpeed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraudSpeed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strikeSpeed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
