An explosion at the Loveland Products chemical plant in Greenville, Mississippi, sent a large plume of black smoke into the air on Wednesday, 4 November, prompting authorities to tell nearby residents to shelter indoors. No injuries were reported.
Emergency crews were alerted shortly after 7am local time at the facility, formerly known as Platte Chemical, on the eastern edge of the city. Preliminary information from plant management indicated that the blast was linked to a fire involving a herbicide chemical.
Firefighters from Greenville were supported by crews from Riverside, Leland and the Greenville Mid-Delta Airport, whose team provided specialised firefighting foam. Ambulance services and the Washington County Emergency Operations Centre also attended.
The fire was brought under control by late morning, with crews later completing work at the scene. Responders underwent precautionary decontamination because of concerns about possible exposure to chemicals.
Residents in the area were instructed to close windows and doors, switch off systems drawing air from outside and remain indoors while officials assessed the smoke. The shelter-in-place order was lifted shortly before noon after the immediate danger had eased.
Nutrien, Loveland Products’ parent company, said the site’s leadership was working with first responders and that the fire was being managed.
Mississippi’s Department of Environmental Quality sent an emergency response team and an air-monitoring contractor to assess any impact on local air quality. The cause of the explosion remained under investigation.
Greenville Mayor Errick D Simmons urged residents to avoid the plant and allow emergency crews to operate safely. The city, in the Mississippi Delta, has a population of about 26,000 and lies roughly 120 miles north-west of the state capital, Jackson.
