Neighbors were shocked to see a nuclear-bomb-like cloud rising over Lake Charles, Louisiana. The huge explosion was “felt and heard in Sulphur” with a “large mushroom cloud visible toward Westlake.”
Chemical tank explosion
The window rattling explosion occurred at a Louisiana chemical plant, Wednesday afternoon, and sent a “mushroom cloud” of black smoke billowing into the air, leaving at least six people injured.
It seems, based on initial information, that the tank became one big “pipe bomb” and authorities haven’t decided yet if it was an accident or intentional. It’s a coin flip either way at this point.
On January 26, an ethylene dichloride storage tank was the source of an explosion at Westlake Chemical, Louisiana State Police confirm.
According to plant officials, the tank was empty. Hazmat crews are on the scene and the cause remains under investigation.
Area schools “were put on a temporary shelter-in-place order, which was lifted just before noon.”
The reason for the massive explosion might not be clear but the damage is. A spokesperson for Westlake Chemical, Joe Andrepont, was quick to note that “all injuries were only minor.”
One person was treated at the scene and the others got an ambulance ride to the hospital. Most of the injuries were from debris and dust in eyes.
Huge explosion felt and heard in Sulphur, large mushroom cloud visible toward Westlake. pic.twitter.com/lOQynxh1Hv
— Read Free Louisiana (@readfreeamerica) January 26, 2022
Like a bomb went off
Residents in the surrounding area are using words like “shock, confusion and fear.” That’s what they felt when the morning explosion “rattled their windows and shook their homes.”
Lucy Kristen reports she heard “this big boom. It was like a bomb went off or something. It was really loud.” Andrew Dowers said it “sounded like somebody hit the house with a car.” Not only that, “It rattled the entire house. It could have knocked stuff off the wall if it would have been a little stronger.”
The locals really started to get nervous when they noticed the shape of the smoke cloud. Dowers “went outside and realized there was a huge plume of smoke coming from the plant area.” Kristen jumped in to add, “It was black smoke but it came up small and then huge, huge.” Like a classic nuclear mushroom.
“It left many on edge as everyone tried to figure out what was going on.” Jocelyn Pena also thought the explosion was a bomb. “It was so loud. I had no idea I thought maybe it was a bomb somewhere.”
When it comes right down to it, the explosion was a bomb. The tank made a perfect pipe bomb container. A couple of things most people don’t know about the chemical used in making PVC and other things is that it’s a little touchy. Those who do know, also know what sets it off. Ethylene dichloride is highly flammable stuff with a flash point of only 56 degrees. That means an empty tank full of fumes is just a bomb waiting to go off.
Professionals take plans from preventing that. One thing all the experts say is never mix it with ammonia. As spelled out in the safety bulletins, per NFPA 491M, 1991, “Liquid ammonia and ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE can cause an explosion when mixed.” A tank of ammonia “exploded violently when it reacted with wet ethylene dichloride which had been the tank’s previous contents.” Something similar could have happened this time. The million dollar question is, “was it on purpose?”
