Fire breaks out in ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown, at least 4 injured

 

At least four individuals were injured in a "serious industrial disaster" early Thursday at an ExxonMobil factory in the Houston suburb of Baytown, according to sheriff's authorities.

According to initial reports, an explosion occurred within the factory, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated in a tweet, and people in the region reported hearing a huge explosion.

According to ExxonMobil, a fire broke out at the plant, an oil refinery, at 2 a.m. ET. The company did not immediately confirm an explosion or explain what caused the fire.

According to the sheriff's office, four persons were injured, three of them were flown to a hospital by helicopter and one by ambulance.

ExxonMobil refinery manager Rohan Davis told reporters early Thursday that the incident occurred in a section that produces gasoline, and that emergency crews were still attempting to extinguish the fire before daybreak.

Davis said the four wounded people's situations were stable, but he couldn't comment on the nature of their injuries.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and will be examined, according to Davis.

Davis stated that the corporation is collaborating with authorities and monitoring air quality with regulators.

According to the ExxonMobil corporate website, the Baytown refinery commenced operations in 1920 and can handle up to 584,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

On about 3,400 acres in and around Baytown, ExxonMobil runs the refinery and many other facilities, including a chemical factory and a technological center. According to the corporation, it employs around 7,000 individuals in the Baytown region.

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