UPDATE: Via NBC News:
A morning explosion and fire at a Louisiana chemical plant Thursday killed one person and injured dozens more, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
The explosion took place at Williams Chemical Plant in Ascension Parish, Louisiana State Police said, and a fire after the explosion was contained and extinguished later in the day.
Seventy-three people were taken to local hospitals, and a total of 300 workers evacuated, Jindal said. He said 10 people remained in a safe room at the plant.
***
CNN reports that emergency crews responded to an explosion at a chemical plant in Louisiana Thursday morning.
The blast and resulting fire occurred at the Williams Olefins facility in Geismar, causing multiple injuries, and forcing authorities to evacuate the area around the facility.
According to the Williams Olefins website:
"The Geismar, La. facility annually produces approximately 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer grade propylene. Also in Louisiana, the olefins team is responsible for the ethane transportation business consisting of approximately 200 miles of pipelines, as well as a refinery-grade propylene splitter."
WAFB reported that residents in St. Gabriel, a nearby community, were being asked to shelter in place as a precaution.
The station, citing state police, said two state routes have been closed near the plant, which is about 30 miles southeast of Baton Rouge.
Six burn victims have been hospitalized, although their conditions are not available at this time.
The fire is not under control and this time, and there are concerns for further explosions.
