Port Neches explosion: Texas town rocked as 'massive fireball’ erupts over chemical plant

A huge blast at a petrochemical plant in Texas has injured at least three people and shaken homes more than 40 miles away.

The window-shattering explosion at the TPC plant in Port Neches “felt like a bomb” according to residents, who were woken early this morning by the massive boom.

The blast occurred just after 1 am local time, igniting a fire which moved rapidly through the facility, a spokesperson for Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.

Three workers were injured and are being treated, the site's owners TPC Group confirmed in a statement, adding that all staff members have been accounted for.

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for “everyone within half a mile” of the burning building, fire officials announced.

This could extend to a larger area and residents are urged to monitor the situation as it develops.

Social media has since erupted with shocking footage of the blast, showing a towering fireball bursting into the night’s sky.

One Twitter user wrote: "The plant by our house in Port Neches is on fire and an explosion went off like a BOMB and literally made our walls flex.

"Literally thought we were about to die."

Another told broadcaster KFDM he and his family had woken up "covered in glass" with their "doors blown in", but said they had managed to escape unscathed.

Another resident tweeted that the explosion was "the scariest sound ever."

While others shared footage of extensive damage to their homes.

Emergency services are working to put out the blaze, but the source of the explosion has not yet been confirmed.

"The event is on going, but will be brought under control as quickly and safely as possible," TPC Group said.

"Right now our focus is on protecting the safety of responders and the public, and minimizing any impact to the environment.

"More information will be updated as soon as it is available."

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