Arkema Chemical Plant in Texas Explodes After Hurricane Damage

A Texas chemical plant was hit by explosions after floods caused by Hurricane Harvey knocked out power supplies needed to refrigerate volatile chemicals. The plant, owned by French chemical company Arkema SA, was evacuated and the local area cleared prior to the blow.

Two explosions and black smoke were reported at 2:00 a.m. local time, after the plant in Crosby, Texas, lost its electricity supply and backup generators, the company said in an Aug. 31 statement. Arkema stores organic peroxides at several locations on the site and the threat of additional explosions remains, it said.

“It is not anything toxic. ...