Garyville in Louisiana is hit by two mile exclusion zone after state of emergency was declared over exploding petroleum plant which sent huge mushroom cloud into sky
Louisiana’s Garyville is hit by a two-mile exclusion zone after a state of emergency was declared over an exploding petroleum plant that sent a huge mushroom cloud into the sky
- Officials have called on people within a mile of Marathon Petroleum in Garyville to evacuate the area
- Residents have reported seeing flames tens of meters high
- The leaked chemical is naphtha, a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture
A state of emergency was declared around a petroleum plant in Louisiana on Friday after a fire and a chemical leak.
Officials have called for people within a two-mile radius of Marathon Petroleum in Garyville, about 40 miles west of New Orleans, to evacuate the area.
Emergency services arrived at the scene at the St. John the Baptist refinery, where images show flames tens of meters high.
“The release and fire are within the refinery grounds and there were no injuries,” Marathon said in a statement.
Air monitoring has been deployed in the community as a precaution. No external effects have been observed. All legal notices have been made.’
A state of emergency was declared in Louisiana on Friday after a fire and chemical leak at a petroleum plant
The chemical released is naphtha, a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture associated with crude oil.
The fire started in a storage tank.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said officials are blocking highways and roads near the plant.
The fire was not under control by noon (EST) four hours after it started.
Schools in the parish, including ESJ Prep Academy, Fifth Ward Elementary, and ESJ High School, have been sheltered in place.
According to an official X account, Riverside Academy has been evacuated to East St. John High School.
The chemical released is naphtha, a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture associated with crude oil
“GMMS has been evacuated to Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School.”
A shelter has opened at East St. John Preparatory Academy Gym at 400 Ory Drive in LaPlace and at West St. John High School at 480 Highway 3127, officials said.
Those requiring transportation are asked to call 985-652-222 or 985-652-6338.
An investigation is being launched into the release of chemical substances.
Officials aren’t sure how long the blaze is expected to last, they said at a news conference Friday.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said officials are blocking highways and roads near the plant
The Marathon Petroleum in Garyville, about 40 miles west of New Orleans