Louisiana explosion: Several injured after chemical tank explodes into massive mushroom cloud

Tank of ethylene dichloride explodes, leaving a long, dark trail of smoke across the sky

An explosion at a chemical factory has left at least six people injured in Louisiana, local reports say.

Westlake Chemical has told KPLC that a tank of ethylene dichloride exploded at its south plant in Westlake, Louisiana, at about 10:45am on Wednesday. The fire has since been extinguished.

A spokesman for the company, Joe Andrepont, said at least six people were hurt, but none had life-threatening injuries.

Five of them were taken to local hospitals, while one was treated at the scene.

According to KATC, all six of the people injured were contract employees doing maintenance work at the plant, which was offline at the time of the explosion.

Photos and videos of the explosion show a massive, dark mushroom cloud spreading across the sky. Multiple local residents told KPLC the incident shook their houses.

The cause of the explosion is still being investigated, Mr Andrepont told the station.

Meanwhile, all shelter-in-place orders in the area have been lifted, and there are no hazardous vapors in the air, he said.

At about 11am – 15 minutes after the explosion – a local school board issued a “precautionary shelter in place” order for all schools in Westlake and Sulphur, Louisiana. At about 1pm, that order was lifted.

“All students, faculty, and staff are safe,” the Calcasieu Parish School Board said on Twitter.

Ethylene dichloride is a chemical used in cleaners, plastics, and gasoline, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. If inhaled in large quantities, it can affect the nervous system, liver, and kidneys, and can potentially cause breathing or heart problems. It is also a “probable human carcinogen”, the EPA says.