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:
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- 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)
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- 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)
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- 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
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- 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)
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- 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.
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- 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)
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- 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)
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- 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
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- 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
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