Photos: At Least 1 Killed And 77 Injured in La. Chemical Plant Explosion

GEISMAR, La. — A ground-rattling explosion Thursday at a chemical plant in Louisiana ignited a blaze that killed one person and injured dozens of others, authorities said. Witnesses described a chaotic scene of flames as high as 200 feet into the air and workers scrambling over gates to escape the plant.

A ground shaking explosion has occurred in Louisiana chemical plant at about 8:37 a.m. on Thursday morning.

The plant is in an industrial area of Geismar, a Mississippi River community about 20 miles south-east of Baton Rouge.

At least one died and seventy-seven others were injured in the explosion.

Police identified the man killed as  29-year-old Zachary C. Green, of Hammond.

The massive explosion started a fire shooting 100 to 200 feet in the air.

The plant which belongs to  Williams Companies Inc., makes ethylene and propylene.

Even after the fire was extinguished, the thick black smoke still rose in the air above the plant.

Here are some photos of the incident …

Please click the photos for larger images:

Smoke rises in the background at a road block near the Williams Olefins chemical plant, after an explosion and fire there, in Geismar, Louisiana June 13, 2013. An explosion and fire tore through the chemical plant on Thursday, injuring 33 people and leading authorities to order people within two miles (3 km) to remain indoors. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman

A chemical plant fire is seen in an aerial photo about twenty miles southeast of Baton Rouge, in Geismer, La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. The plant makes highly flammable gases that are basic building blocks in the petrochemical industry. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

A chemical plant fire is seen in this aerial photo about twenty miles southeast of Baton Rouge, in Geismer, La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. Ambulances and helicopters took at least 30 people from the burning chemical plant after an explosion Thursday, officials said. Early tests did not indicate dangerous levels of any chemicals around the plant, but area residents were told to remain indoors with doors and windows closed, said Jean Kelly, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Quality. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

GEISMAR, La. — A ground-rattling explosion Thursday at a chemical plant in Louisiana ignited a blaze that killed one person and injured dozens of others, authorities said. Witnesses described a chaotic scene of flames as high as 200 feet into the air and workers scrambling over gates to escape the plant.

This photo provided by Ryan Meador shows an explosion at The Williams Companies Inc. plant in the Ascension Parish town of Geismar La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. The fire broke out Thursday morning at the plant, which the company’s website says puts out about 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer grade propylene a year. (AP Photo/Ryan Meador)

This photo provided by Ryan Meador shows an explosion at The Williams Companies Inc. plant in the Ascension Parish town of Geismar La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. The fire broke out Thursday morning at the plant, which the company’s website says puts out about 1.3 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer grade propylene a year. (AP Photo/Ryan Meador)

Flames and smoke rise from the Williams Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, Louisiana June 13, 2013. The explosion and fire at the chemical plant in Geismar killed one person and injured 73 others, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said on Thursday. REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman (UNITED STATES – Tags: DISASTER

Melted portable toilets are seen at a chemical plant fire in this aerial photo about twenty miles southeast of Baton Rouge, in Geismer, La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. The plant makes highly flammable gases that are basic building blocks in the petrochemical industry. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A chemical plant is hosed down after a fire in this aerial photo about twenty miles southeast of Baton Rouge, in Geismer, La., Thursday, June 13, 2013. The plant makes highly flammable gases that are basic building blocks in the petrochemical industry. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Photos: Interstate 5 Bridge Collapsed, 3 Injured

An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle Thursday evening, dumping two vehicles into the water.

An Interstate 5 four-lane bridge over Skagit River, about 55 miles north of Seattle, Washinton collapsed at about 7 p.m. on Thursday evening sending two vehicles were into the chilly water of the river.

Rescue effort by boats and divers saved three injured people and they were taken to the Skagit Valley Hospital and the United General Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.

AP reported that authorities said it appeared nobody was killed.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NSTB) is still investigating the cause of the disaster.

Anyway State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said a semi-truck driven southbound struck the bridge just before part of it collapsed.

The freeway is a principal corridor for vehicles between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada.

The bridge was built in 1955 and the disaster raised concerns about the safety of old bridges in the United States.

In August 2007, a bridge fell into the Mississippi River in Minnesota, killing thirteen people.

AP reported that more than a quarter of Washington’s 7,840 bridges are considered structurally deficient of functionally obsolete.

Please click the photos for larger images:

A local engineering expert talked to KCAL9’s Dave Bryan about the possible reasons a bridge collapsed in Washington state.

Officials look on from the remaining structure at the collapsed Interstate-5 bridge submerged below in the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013. At least two vehicles went into the river. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

The collapsed Interstate-5 bridge is seen in ruins and partially submerged in the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013. At least two vehicles went into the river in the collapse. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

A portion of the Interstate-5 bridge is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

View looking west at a portion of the Interstate-5 bridge submerged after collapsing into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

A local engineering expert talked to KCAL9’s Dave Bryan about the possible reasons a bridge collapsed in Washington state.

Washington State officials say a truck apparently hit a part of a bridge, before a section of the bridge collapsed into the Skagit River. Three people were rescued. Officials are certain that everyone who went into the water is accounted for. (May 24)

In this photo provided by Francisco Rodriguez, rescue workers form a human chain as they begin to remove a woman who reaches out from a smashed pickup truck that fell into the Skagit River after the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridgeThursday, May 23, 2013, in Mount Vernon, Wash. (AP Photo/Francisco Rodriguez)

MT. VERNON, WASHINGTON – MAY 23: Crews survey the scene of a bridge collapse on Interstate 5 on May 23, 2013 near Mt. Vernon, Washington. I-5 connects Seattle, Washington to Vancouver B.C., Canada. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

A rescue boat and divers search near a portion of the Interstate-5 bridge that is submerged after it collapsed into the Skagit river dumping vehicles and people into the water in Mount Vernon, Wash., Thursday, May 23, 2013 according to the Washington State Patrol. (AP Photo/Joe Nicholson)

In this photo provided by Francisco Rodriguez, a man is seen sitting atop a car that fell into the Skagit River after the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge there minutes earlier Thursday, May 23, 2013, in Mount Vernon, Wash. (AP Photo/Francisco Rodriguez)