Explosion, fire heard at Chalmette refining plant in Louisiana

Fire crews continued operations inside the Chalmette Refining facility in Louisiana on May 8, working to cool storage tanks after an explosion and fire broke out at the site earlier in the day.

The incident occurred at an operating unit shortly before 1 p.m. local time, according to officials. St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes said emergency responders arrived within minutes and managed to bring the fire under control in about 10 minutes, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

No injuries have been reported.

Chalmette Refining said the fire began at approximately 12:51 p.m. and involved an operational unit at the refinery. The company said personnel responded immediately and confirmed that all workers in the area were safe and accounted for.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion. The refinery said the investigation remains ongoing.

Fire crews remained on site after the blaze was extinguished, using water to cool affected tanks as a precaution. Air monitoring systems were deployed around the facility to ensure there were no off-site impacts to surrounding communities.

Residents in nearby areas reported hearing a loud blast and feeling vibrations, with some describing shaken homes and buildings. A large plume of smoke was visible over St. Bernard Parish shortly after the explosion, and nearby roads were temporarily closed before reopening later in the day.

The incident was also captured on a backyard security camera, according to local reports.

By Sabina Mammadli