Texas Explosions Show Chemical Industry Pushed to Its Limits
- Arkema chemical plant blasts were caused by Harvey’s floods
- More than half of U.S. production of key chemicals is halted
Arkema Confirms Explosions in Texas, Threat of More
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In its devastatingly slow crawl up the industrial Gulf Coast, Hurricane Harvey is proving to be the biggest test yet of the safety and vulnerabilities of the U.S. chemicals industry.
A Houston-area chemical plant was hit by explosions overnight after floods caused by Harvey knocked out power supplies needed to refrigerate volatile peroxides. Fifteen police officers were treated at the hospital for smoke irritation from the plant. Earlier evacuations of the site and surrounding community prevented more serious injuries. The plant is owned by French chemical company Arkema SA.