Local officials have ordered residents near a Texas oil refinery to immediately shelter in place following an explosion at Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery on Monday.
“To ensure the safety of all residents in the vicinity and in light of the recent explosion at the Valero refinery, an immediate shelter in place is ordered,” Port Arthur emergency management officials wrote in an alert, noting the order applied to a large swath of land surrounding the refinery.
Local media reports showed tall flames and a plume of black smoke rising from the refinery, while nearby residents reported a loud boom that rattled windows.
Valero confirmed the incident in a statement, saying: “Currently there is a fire in a unit at Valero’s Port Arthur, Texas refinery. All personnel have been accounted for.”
The company added that worker safety is a “top priority.”
Located about 90 miles east of Houston, the Port Arthur refinery employs nearly 800 employees and processes heavy sour crude oil and other feedstocks into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. According to Valero’s website, the facility moves approximately 435,000 barrels per day.
