Facebook/Joe Caraviello via StoryfulA fire burns at a BP natural gas plant in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on June 27, 2016.Explosion Rocks BP Natural Gas Plant in Mississippi, No Injuries Reported
By David Caplan Jun 28, 2016, 4:20 AM ET
Vibrations from the explosion were felt nearly 10 miles away, according to ABC's Biloxi affiliate, WLOX.
The plant is located in the city of Pascagoula, about 30 miles east of Biloxi. The facility takes in offshore natural gas and processes it to be shipped via a pipeline.
Jackson County Emergency Services manager Earl Etheridge told ABC News that crews hope to have the fire extinguished by dawn.
Etheridge said the explosion and fire began at approximately 11:30 p.m. He said two employees were on duty at the time, but they were not injured.
Local fire departments responded to the scene, and were working with plant employees to control and extinguish the fire. Emergency crews also blocked off the plant to secure the scene.
Although there were no mandatory evacuation orders, Jackson County Emergency Services initially asked residents who live near the plant to leave their homes as a precaution. Etheridge said residents returned to their homes soon afterwards.
In statement posted on its Facebook page around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, the Pascagoula Police Department said, "We would like to let our citizens know that there has been an explosion at the BP Gas Plant, located at 6800 Stennis Blvd. It is contained to the building. We are working with state and local officials regarding this. There will be no evacuations at this time and there are no injuries. We will update you as more details become available."
BP has yet to comment on the incident.
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PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Police in Mississippi say no injuries or fatalities have been reported after a large explosion and fire at a natural gas plant.
Pascagoula Police Capt. Shannon Broom says authorities received a report about the explosion at an Amoco BP plant around 11:30 Monday night.
He says authorities aren't aware of any injuries.
Jackson County Emergency Services Director Earl Etheridge told CBS Biloxi, Mississippi affiliate WLOX-TV two workers were at the plant at the time. Etheridge said both were in an explosion-proof control room and weren't hurt.
Although police didn't evacuate any homes, Etheridge said many nearby residents cleared out on their own. It wasn't clear whether they'd returned Tuesday morning.
WLOX says flames were shooting high into the sky after the blast, adding that vibrations were felt as far as 10 miles away.
Pascagoula is along the Gulf of Mexico, about 30 miles east of Biloxi.
The plant refines natural gas from wells in the Gulf of Mexico and distributes it to other parts of the country, report CBS Mobile, Alabama affiliate WKRG-TV.
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