Explosion in Texas City kills 4

http://www.khou.com/ ^

[Johnny Crab]

Texas City is the armpit of Texas.

Here's the link to local news and a live video feed:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk

Although any hydrocarbon processing plant can go BOOM at any time(I'm at one now), a quick search shows certain ones(old ones and those run poorly) go BOOM more often and a lot. Search the string "B.P. explosion plant" and see what you get.

BTW, this is a large gasoline refinery so we ain't seen near the top out on gas prices yet.

[MEG33]

http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/metropolitan/txcity/
"When someone in Texas City mentions "The Explosion," no explanation is necessary. Everybody in the city knows what happened on April 16, 1947. Many remember it firsthand. That cool spring morning when a ship blew up in the port on Galveston Bay. The blast took nearly 600 lives and millions of dollars in property, and it scarred the town. A half-century later, people in Texas City celebrate their recovery, but still mourn their loss.

Moore Memorial Public Library, Texas City


Paul S. Howell / Chronicle
The Texas City explosion turned a bustling port into a scene of destruction and left the Monsanto chemical plant, top, a ruined skeleton. The human toll was worse, including scores of Monsanto workers named on a marker, shown above.
Paul S. Howell / Chronicle
They lived through the disaster, and have lived 50 years since. But for survivors like Ceary Johnson, above, the Texas City port still holds vivid and frightful memories."
FYI

[Arrowhead1952]

Here you go.

Texas City map

[MEG33]

Just tuned in..Looks really bad...

Gasoline refinery... 3% of the refined gasoline will not be produced because of this explosion..affects supply, markets,etc..

I am not feeling good about number of victims..need more info about how many there..Terrible destruction..

May God be with those who mourn and bless the rescuers.

[girlscout]

Texas City is the armpit of Texas.

You won't get any argument from me. I've been to and through Texas City many times and my husband worked at the Amoco plant years ago when he was still pulling wrenches.

25 patients admitted to Mainland Hospital, 10 by ambulance. The hospital is expecting 10 more. I have my office TV on and am watching channel 11 news.

[Texas_Jarhead]

between Houston and Galveston more or less

[TalonDJ]

Not 3%. This will not shut down the whole plant. Those plants are rather large. From what someone else said on the other thread this might have been on of the cracking towers of which there are 3 but one is mothballed. So we are probably looking at half production for a while until they can get the old one online. It is bad but not really really bad.

[Eva]

It's turn around time, and that's when these accidents happen because there is such a hurry to get the plant back into operation. I don't know if this plant was having a turn around, but that is a common scenario.

BP had an accident at the local refinery, here in WA State, back in 1991, where two men were killed during a turn around. BP then sold the refinery.

[MEG33]

I was just quoting the news report...I have no clue about these things.

[MEG33]

http://www.txcn.com/
http://www.click2houston.com/index.html

additional links.

[anymouse]

TX City PB plant explosion ping.

[MEG33]

news conference at 4CST

[girlscout]

There was mention on the news of 4 red cranes in the area which tells me they probably were in a turn around.

[BellStar]

Explosion at BP refinery ... see below... blood donors are needed... please let everyone know! Mary Anne Holcomb University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston
http://www.jarbobayoutimes.com

[r9etb]

Here's your sister's explosion....

[TXBSAFH]

Prayers sent.

I worked in this plant in my younger days. It was a bomb waiting to happen then. I was a pipefitter and helper, and more then once I over heard other construction workers (men who, had done time, men who servied in Vietnam, men who had done many dangerous and dirty jobs in their life) refuse high paying work at that Amoco plant.

[Dog Gone]

A BP spokesman now says that it was an octane-producing unit, so that's less serious to the refining process. There are workarounds.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Too bad none of them reported it to OSHA. But, if it was before the whistle blower protection days, I do not blame them for not speaking up back then.

[BellStar]

Just reported 62 are in Mainland Hospital.
12 in UTMB Trauma Center in Galveston.

[girlscout]

Last report on Channel 11 still maintains 4 deaths. Reporting 60 injured, 36 transported to Mainland Hospital and 17 to UTMB Hospital in Galveston with several being delivered by Life Flight. Search and rescue is still underway at the plant for any missing workers. Some area residents have gone to the hospital as well with injuries from the explosions.