Late Wednesday morning, multiple explosions at Exxon Mobil’s Olefins Plant in Baytown, Texas caused parts of the facility to erupt into flames.
This is the second incident at the plant in the last six months. In March 2019, Harris County and the State of Texas sued Exxon because of a fire that occurred at the same facility.
In the last decade, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has fined the Exxon Mobil complex in Baytown twenty-two times, resulting in almost $1 million in penalties. Half of those fines are from a single incident in 2009 where the plant was alleged to have failed to prevent unauthorized emissions.
What Has Been Revealed So Far?
While the reason of the explosion is still under investigation, the explosion caused substantial amounts of propane and propelene to ignite, starting a fire that took nearly 24 hours to extinguish.
Due to the toxicity of the burning chemicals, a “shelter-in place” order was issued shortly after the explosion, and was in effect until 3 p.m. in the afternoon.
How Many People Have Been Injured?
While the number of individuals injured in the explosion is uncertain, Exxon Mobil officials have stated that over thirty five people were injured.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been Injured?
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of the explosion, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
It is common for companies like Exxon Mobil to set up a phone hotline or website to file claim. Unfortunately, more often than not, these types of hotlines or websites exist to protect the company instead of fairly compensating the injured.
Mo Aziz and Benny Agosto, Jr., partners at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, already represent several victims of the Exxon Mobil explosion. Before you file any claim, call them today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for a free consultation on your rights and options for receiving fair compensation for your injuries.