AN explosion at a Louisiana chemical plant reportedly left six injured as a shocking "mushroom cloud" formed in the sky following the blast.
Officials said the blast occurred at the Westlake chemical south plant on Wednesday morning after a tank of Ethylene Dichloride exploded, KPLC News reported.
The chemical compound Ethylene Dichloride, also known as 1,2-Dichloroethane, is toxic, highly flammable, and has the potential to cause cancer.
The chemical is incredibly toxic when inhaled due to its high vapor pressure.
According to KPLC News, at least six people sustained minor injuries.
Five people were transported to local hospitals.
Louisiana State Police said the explosion occurred between I-10 and I-210 at Westlake Chemical among its storage tanks.
A Hazmat crew was reportedly sent to investigate the explosion.
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Shocking photos shared on social media from Westlake showed a giant “mushroom cloud” formed from the direction of the chemical plant.
Large plumes of black smoke were seen billowing from the site, prompting a precautionary lockdown at all Sulphur and Westlake schools.
“All students, faculty, and staff are safe,” the Calcasieu Parish School Board said in a statement.
A spokesman for the company said there are no vapors in the air and there’s no need to shelter in place.
The same plant was the location of an explosion that injured six people last September.
In that explosion, Westlake Chemical Corporation called the incident “an industrial accident” in an offline petro plant that was undergoing maintenance.
“Anything at a chemical plant would be a big deal whether it’s an explosion, a chemical release, a fire, or anything like that,” State Trooper Derek Senegal at the time.
“Of course, if there are people involved with that, we don’t want to have any type of loss of life or impact on site that will affect residents.”
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