Three towns in the proximity of Port Neches, Texas, have been evacuated after the second massive explosion at the local chemical plant.
According to the reports, the first explosion at the TPC Group plant occurred on November 27 at 1 am, whereas another explosion followed around 12 hours later.
In pictures and videos shared with the media, structural components and clouds of black smoke were seen bursting into the sky.
Following at least three people getting injured during the explosions, the authorities have ordered the residents of Groves and Port Neches to evacuate as a precaution.
As H. Tyler Seggerman, a reporter for the 12 News Now explained, all residents of Nederland and areas within a 4-mile radius were told to leave their homes temporarily.
While firefighters were fighting the raging flames, shocked locals were cleaning up their homes and boarding up their windows due to the blast smashing the majority of them in nearby areas.
According to several residents, their doors have also been knocked down by the powerful blast.
Speaking to NBC News, Shawn Dunlap of Nederland said the blast was strong enough to shatter all glass windows in his flat.
“It shook our house twice. It was just like a bomb going off,” he said.
Another affected resident was Macy Malin who was staying in Port Neches at the time of the incident.
“Their doors were blown open … doorknobs themselves were shot across room,” she said.
25-year-old Ryan Mathewson, whose home is just minutes away from the plant, also spoke out and told AFP that they “woke up to glass all over us and parts of the ceiling caved in, (and) doors blown in.”
Apparently, even families as far as 15 miles weren’t spared the shockwave caused by the petrochemical plant’s explosion.
As Omar Hamza insisted, his garage doors, as well as his windows, were blown out by the blast even though he lives 15 miles away from the plant.
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends and follow us on Facebook for more news and stories!
Replaced!