Another blast in Texas chemical plant prompts 2nd evacuation

HOUSTON - A second evacuation order was issued Wednesday afternoon after another explosion occurred at a chemical plant of TPC Group in Port Neches, about 150 km east of downtown Houston.

The blast caused a tower to fall, but there were no reports of major injuries outside the plant yet.

According to media reports, the chemical burning at the plant is butadiene, a known carcinogen. When butadiene enters the environment, it's highly volatile and has low water solubility.

Three people were injured in the first blast at the chemical plant early Wednesday morning, which caused evacuation for nearby neighborhood.

TPC Group is a leading producer of petrochemical raw materials and a provider of infrastructure and logistics services along the Gulf Coast.