Heavy smoke is seen at a KMCO plant in Crosby, about 40 kilometers northeast of Houston, the United States, April 2, 2019. The fire at the chemical plant has been contained, leaving one person killed and two others critically injured, local authorities said on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Lao Chengyue)
HOUSTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and at least two others injured after a heavy fire broke out Tuesday at a chemical plant in the U.S. state of Texas, and an investigation is underway, according to local authorities.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Houston Region Office has dispatched emergency response personnel to conduct an initial assessment of the fire at a KMCO plant in Crosby, about 40 km northeast of Houston.
The company confirmed in a statement that "there have been injuries and one fatality."
Local police said that a shelter-in-place order has been issued for residents who live within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the plant.
Isobutylene is the chemical burning at the facility, which is a highly flammable colorless gas with a faint petroleum-like odor, according to the authorities.
Two weeks ago, a heavy fire erupted at the Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Deer Park, about 40 km southeast of downtown Houston.
