One Killed in Louisiana Chemical Plant Explosion
33 injured
An explosion and fire killed at least one person and injured 33 at the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, Louisiana, on Thursday, leading authorities to order people within two miles to remain indoors.
The blast created a huge fireball and column of smoke when it hit at 8:37 a.m. (0937 ET) at the plant along the Mississippi River just south of Baton Rouge and about 60 miles up river from New Orleans.
About 600 people were working at the plant at the time, and the fire was still burning more than three hours later, state police said.