A large explosion at an oil refinery near the Texas coast on Monday shot plumes of smoke into the air and forced nearby residents to shelter in place, officials said.
No one was injured in the explosion at the Valero refinery in Port Arthur, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses said. She urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay put, stating that firefighters had arrived on the scene.
“There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,” she mentioned. “They’re trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible.”
The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply due to ongoing tensions related to the Iran war.
The refinery has about 770 employees and can process approximately 435,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Valero’s website. The plant is responsible for refining heavy sour crude oil into various fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Images and videos shared online depicted a significant plume of smoke and flames rising from the refinery, with reports of a loud boom and shaking windows from nearby residents.
“For your safety please remain in place until the ‘All Clear’ is given by emergency personnel,” the City of Port Arthur advised in a recent Facebook post.
Texas state Rep. Christian Manuel confirmed via social media that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had arrived at the site with air monitoring equipment to evaluate the situation in collaboration with local and state partners.
Residents were urged to limit outdoor activity, keep their windows and doors closed, and adhere to guidance issued by local officials.
Valero has not responded to inquiries from the Associated Press regarding the incident.
