Two separate explosions, thirteen hours apart, left three workers injured at a Texas chemical plant last week. The TPC Group plant makes chemical and petroleum-based products.

The explosions blew out windows and doors of homes nearby and prompted a mandatory evacuation of a 4-mile radius around the plant in Port Neches, TX. The fire is still burning, and officials say they have no estimate of how long it will burn. Water cannons were trained on surrounding areas of the plant to keep them cool and avoid any more explosions. The plant lost power, and until it is restored it is unlikely that officials can investigate the cause of the explosion or fully realize how much damage was done.

The first explosion occurred at 1 a.m. and started a fire, sending smoke into the air for miles and hurting three workers – two who were TPC employees and one who was a contractor. They were treated at hospitals and released, and the other employees at the plant at the time of the explosion were all accounted for.

Troy Monk, TPC’s director of health, safety and security said the blast occurred in an area of the plant that makes butadiene, a chemical used to make synthetic rubber and other products. He said the plant has 175 full-time employees and 50 contract workers.

The second explosion occurred at 2 p.m. and sent a steel reactor shooting into the air. At that point Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick ordered a mandatory evacuation of Port Neches and neighboring Groves, Nederland and part of Port Arthur. There were five residents being treated for minor injuries, mainly related to shattered glass. No elevated chemical levels had been detected in the area.

Monk said TPC would form an investigation team to determine what led to the explosions.

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