A massive explosion at the Valero refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, has prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents and raised concerns about air quality.
The incident occurred on March 23 at approximately 7:22 p.m. and is still under investigation.
Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising into the sky, and videos captured the sound of a loud blast.
Emergency responders, including fire crews and hazmat teams, have been deployed to contain the situation.
No injuries have been reported, and evacuations are not currently necessary.
Air quality monitoring is underway to determine whether toxic substances have been released into the surrounding area.
