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Workers Evacuated After Chemical Plant Explosion Near Lake Charles

Several people were injured after an explosion at a chemical plant outside Lake Charles, Louisiana, shook the wider area and sent large plumes of dark smoke through the air on Wednesday morning, January 26, local media reported.

The explosion occurred at a plant operated by Westlake Chemical at 10:45 am and involved an empty ethylene dichloride tank, according to KPLC, citing plant officials.

This footage from Roishetta Sibley Ozane, a Community Organizer for Healthy Gulf, an organization that promotes environmental protection in Louisiana, shows plant workers gathered on roadsides after evacuations were carried out.

Westlake Chemical spokesman Joe Andrepont said six people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, KPLC reported.

Storyful has reached out to Westlake Chemical for more information. Credit: Roishetta Sibley Ozane via Storyful