Texas chemical plant explosion leads to shelter-in-place orders

Officials in Texas are responding to a major explosion at a chemical plant in Shepherd.

The explosion occurred around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8, at the Sound Chemical Solutions facility located along FM 1127 in Shepherd, Texas. The plant makes solvents for glue and paint thinner.

All workers inside the plant are accounted for. One worker suffered a minor burn injury.

Chemicals inside the burning facility are known to cause “acute toxicity.”

U.S. Highway 59 is closed in both directions from Shepherd to Goodrich.

The San Jacinto County Office of Emergency Management has issued a shelter-in-place order for those within a one mile radius of the chemical plant.

Video from the scene shows massive fire damage to the building structure.