Several dead as blast hits BP refinery in Texas

[Navy6064]

U.S. National - AFP


Several dead as blast hits BP refinery in Texas

U.S. National - AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A massive explosion rocked BP's biggest oil refinery in the United States, killing several people and shooting an acrid pall of smoke high into the sky above the coastal site in Texas.

Authorities said terrorism was not suspected as being behind the blast at the British company's sprawling Texas City site on the shores of Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Houston.

The facility produces 30 percent of BP's North American oil and three percent of the entire US supply. The blast sent oil prices back up in after-hours trading in New York after they had slipped lower during the day.

"The accident has caused injuries to multiple BP workers, and it is with deep sadness that I must report that there have been fatalities," BP site manager Don Parus said.

"We have not had time to investigate causes, and we will not speculate. But at this time, terrorism is not a primary focus of our concern," he added.

In March last year the FBI (news - web sites) warned Texas oil refineries of a potential terrorism threat in the wake of deadly train blasts in Madrid, which came two-and-a-half years after the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Five days after the FBI warning a series of blasts ripped though the BP petrochemical complex at Texas City, but a fire in a furnace was found to be the cause.

BP was unable to confirm how many people had been killed or injured in Wednesday's incident, but US media reports spoke of four dead.

The blast occurred at the western end of the 1,200-acre (486-hectare) facility at 1:20 pm (1920 GMT). Firefighters battled for three hours to bring the resulting blaze under control.

"The fire is out, and we are working with local authorities to bring the situation fully under control and to provide emergency medical care for the injured," Parus said.

Local authorities enacted emergency planning, ordering all schoolchildren and thousands of nearby residents to stay indoors for more than two hours before concluding that there was no environmental hazard.

"The emergency is contained. Search-and-rescue missions will continue should that prove necessary," said John Lee, planning coordinator for the Galveston County office of emergency management.

"There was an explosion and a fire involving a type of petroleum naphtha, a partially refined gasoline," he told AFP.

"We do not know what caused the explosion. I'm sure that every possibility is being looked into, but we have had no indications of foul play including terrorism."

The blast created a thick pall of black smoke stretching as high as 4,000 feet (1,220 metres), but light winds dispersed the acrid fog over the Gulf of Mexico.

According to BP, the Texas City site groups 30 refinery units and handles 460 million barrels of oil a day. It pumps out enough gasoline to fill up a car every seven seconds.

Judith Mantell, a 62-year-old social worker, said the blast rattled the windows of her house five miles (eight kilometres) away and lifted her truck a couple of inches into the air.

"It was unbelievable, the flames shot more than 70 feet (21 metres) into the air," she told the online edition of the Houston Chronicle.

"I've never seen flames that high from anything. They were bright orange, with yellow on the side," she said.

A small section of the channel serving the port of Houston close by Texas City was closed for safety inspections but soon re-opened, port authority and coast guard officials said.

Earlier reports said the entire channel had been closed to commercial shipping as a result of the blast.

[AngelBear]

Currently there are 14 dead and roughly 70 taken to the hospital's in Texas City, Galveston and Houston.

What is totally stupid is all the comments from those that live close "I am just scared to live so close to a refinery" HELLO MOVE! If you don't like the neighborhood then simply move. It not like the refineries suddenly appeared they have been here for a long time.

[66MP1]

Angel, how close is that to you?

[CFHSNJROTC]

here is an article on this with pictures from AOL News.
sad story .
At Least 14 Dead in Huge Refinery Explosion
One Worker Missing; More Than 100 Injured
By PAM EASTON, AP

CNN

The blast was felt miles from the refinery. "Have you ever heard the thunder real loud? It was like 10 times that,'' a plant worker said.
Jump Below: Photo GalleryWatch Broadband Video:
Rubble Searched for Survivors
Press Conference About Blast

More on This Story:
· Tragedy Has Hit Town Before

Talk About It: Post | Chat

TEXAS CITY, Texas (March 24) - All but one of the 1,800 or so oil refinery workers have been accounted for after overnight search efforts following the thunderous blast that killed 14 and injured more than 100, officials said Thursday.

''We think we've found all the people,'' refinery manager Don Parus said.

BP refinery records indicate the one unaccounted-for worker checked out and left the refinery, but no one has heard from him, Parus said. Those who died were all contractors for Los Angeles-based field services company J.E. Merritt, he said.

The fiery blast Wednesday at BP's 1,200-acre plant near Houston shot flames high into the sky, forced schoolchildren to cower under their desks and showered plant grounds with ash and chunks of charred metal. Windows rattled more than five miles away.

Parus on Thursday confirmed the death toll at 14 but said further details would come from the medical examiner's office.

About 433,000 barrels of crude oil are processed a day at the plant, producing 3 percent of the U.S. supply. Other than the unit affected by the blast, the rest of the refinery was running normally, said BP spokesman Hugh Depland.

Gasoline prices could rise slightly because the plant is such a large gas producer. Gasoline futures rose nearly 2 cents in late trading Wednesday on news of the explosion. In afternoon trading Thursday in Europe, the price of unleaded gasoline for April delivery was up 2.8 cents.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. It happened in a part of the plant used to boost the octane level of gasoline. Federal investigators will conduct a preliminary review of the accident.

''We have not had time to investigate causes, and we will not speculate.'' Parus said Wednesday. ''But at this time, terrorism is not a primary focus of our concern.''

Explosion Rocks Oil Town

Wenceslado de la Cerda, a 50-year-old retired firefighter, said the blast shook the ground, rattled windows and knocked ceiling panels to the floor.

''Basically, it was one big boom,'' he said. ''It's a shame that people have to get killed and hurt trying to make a dollar in these plants, but that's part of reality.''

Valerie Perez was among those standing vigil outside the refinery fence late Wednesday, concerned about the fate of her 18-year-old husband, a BP worker.

''I'm nervous,'' she said, holding back tears.

Texas City has a population of about 40,000. The plant and town have dealt with two other refinery accidents within the last year.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the refinery nearly $110,000 after two employees were burned to death by superheated water in September.

Another explosion forced the evacuation of the plant for several hours last March. Afterward, OSHA fined the refinery $63,000 for 14 safety violations, including problems with its emergency shutdown system and employee training.

Texas City is the site of the worst industrial accident in U.S. history. In 1947, a fire aboard a ship at the Texas City docks triggered a massive explosion that killed 576 people and left fires burning in the city for days.

''Welcome to life in Texas City,'' said Marion Taylor, 55, shortly after the explosion. ''I was born here and pretty much, it happens from time to time.''



03-24-05 0806EST

Dwight Andrews, The Galveston County Daily News/AP

Emergency workers load a refinery employee onto a helicopter Wednesday for transfer to a hospital. More than 100 peopel were injured in the explosion.

Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle/AP

Firefighters spray a smoldering unit at a BP oil refinery after Wednesday's explosion in Texas City, Texas.

[AngelBear]

Originally Posted by 66MP1

Angel, how close is that to you?

I'm about 45 to 55 miles from there...

[CFHSNJROTC]

you stay safe ok Angel .

[Batgirl]

I hope there aren't too many more casualties. The blast has also hit the oil markets over here.

[AngelBear]

Originally Posted by CFHSNJROTC

you stay safe ok Angel .

No problem in that... I have lived in the Houston area for many years and never had a desire to live over by the ship channel, Pasadena, East Houston or Texas City those are some of the heaviest areas for chemical plants. If anyone has seen "Urban Cowboy" it was filmed in Pasadena and it is full of chemical plants.

[CFHSNJROTC]

hey thats a good thing capster .

[AngelBear]

It is a good thing for there were 70 +/- taken to hospitals that could have died instead.. the count is up to 15 now though and only 5 have been identified the rest may have to use DNA testing or dental records. One 33 yr old woman this was to be her last week there... she has not been found yet so I am sure she is one that may require DNA testing... this is going to cost major money for houses in the neighborhoods are damaged as well.