Fire engulfs US petroleum refinery storage tank in Louisiana due to chemical leak
Marathon Petroleum refinery storage tank in Garyville, Louisiana, United States, caught fire on Friday.
Oredola Adeola
A Marathon Petroleum refinery storage tank in Garyville, Louisiana, United States, caught fire on Friday due to a naphtha chemical leak, according to a company spokesperson.
According to the first responders who are on-site the fire was contained to the refinery’s property, about 40 miles west of New Orleans, and there have been no injuries.
“As a precautionary measure, St. John the Baptist Parish is requiring residents within a one-mile radius of the part of the refinery closest to the fire to temporarily evacuate to locations the Parish is making available,” Marathon said in a news release.
The spokesperson said air monitoring has been deployed as a precaution, adding that the management is working to stop the fire with the first responders.
Residents within a two-mile radius of the refinery are being ordered to evacuate as a precautionary measure, St. John the Baptist Parish officials say.
Emergency crews are responding to the incident.
EnergyDay however gathered that about 8,660 residents who live within two miles of the refinery are likely to be impacted by negative respiration due to the smoke plume.
