An ominous plume of smoke billowed from the Valero refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, on Monday evening, following a startling explosion that sent tremors through the area. Despite the alarming incident, no injuries have been reported.
Residents of Port Arthur, located roughly 90 miles east of Houston, were advised to remain indoors after the explosion triggered a shelter-in-place alert. Witnesses described hearing a loud boom that caused car windows to shake, according to calls received by 12News.
Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte M. Moses reassured the community, stating, “There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,” as emergency crews worked swiftly to extinguish the fire.
Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens indicated that a heater unit might have been involved in the explosion. Meanwhile, officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were on-site, vigilantly monitoring the local air quality to ensure public safety.
The Port Arthur Police and Fire Departments issued a shelter-in-place order for residents on the city’s west side through an emergency alert system. Authorities were quick to clarify that there was no need for evacuations at this time.
Port Arthur Police and Fire Departments advised residents on the west side of the city to shelter in place, according to an emergency alert. Authorities emphasized that no evacuations were ordered.
Interim Port Arthur Fire Chief Louie Havens said two engines were initially sent to the refinery and a hazmat team is being deployed to Valero. Havens confirmed there were no injuries or deaths reported.
The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war.
The Valero Port Arthur Refinery is on the Texas Gulf coast and employs about 770 workers. It produces 435,000 barrels per day and processes heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, according to its website.
Valero did not immediately respond to an email or call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
> A doorbell camera captured the moment of the explosion:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
