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 east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses confirmed. She urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay indoors as firefighters arrived.
“There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,” she emphasized. “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 conflicts in the region. Valero's refinery is a significant operation, with about 770 employees and the capacity to process around 435,000 barrels of oil per day, refining heavy sour crude into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Images and videos shared online showed large plumes of smoke and flames billowing from the facility, with some residents reporting hearing a loud boom and feeling their windows shake.
“For your safety, please remain in place until the ‘All Clear’ is given by emergency personnel,” the City of Port Arthur stated on Facebook.
Officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have arrived to monitor air quality as a precautionary measure. Texas state Rep. Christian Manuel also urged residents to limit outdoor activities and keep doors and windows closed until further notice.
“There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,” she emphasized. “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 conflicts in the region. Valero's refinery is a significant operation, with about 770 employees and the capacity to process around 435,000 barrels of oil per day, refining heavy sour crude into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.
Images and videos shared online showed large plumes of smoke and flames billowing from the facility, with some residents reporting hearing a loud boom and feeling their windows shake.
“For your safety, please remain in place until the ‘All Clear’ is given by emergency personnel,” the City of Port Arthur stated on Facebook.
Officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have arrived to monitor air quality as a precautionary measure. Texas state Rep. Christian Manuel also urged residents to limit outdoor activities and keep doors and windows closed until further notice.
