Local officials on Monday urged residents living near a Texas oil refinery to shelter in place following an explosion at Valero’s Port Arthur facility.
“To ensure the safety of all residents in the surrounding area, and in light of the recent explosion at the Valero refinery, an immediate shelter-in-place order is now in effect,” Port Arthur emergency management officials said in an alert, noting it covered a broad area around the site.
Valero confirmed there is an active fire in one of the refinery’s units but said all personnel have been accounted for. “Worker safety remains our top priority,” the company said in a statement.
Local media footage showed towering flames and thick black smoke billowing from the refinery, while nearby residents reported hearing a powerful blast that shook homes and rattled windows.
The Port Arthur refinery, located about 90 miles east of Houston, employs roughly 800 workers. It processes heavy sour crude oil and other feedstocks into fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, with a capacity of about 435,000 barrels per day, according to Valero.
AFP
