Explosion at Goodyear Chemical Plant

The Goodyear Chemical plant in Houston, Texas, was evacuated after a heat exchanger exploded. One person was reportedly killed and six injured in the blast, which took place at 7:30 on Wednesday 11 June, after inhaling ammonia, which was being used as refrigerant to cool the exploded heat exchanger. However, company officials report that the rest of the roughly 250 employees were back on-site by 11:00. The Goodyear Chemical plant in Southeast Houston, Texas makes synthetic rubber and the blast occurred in a heat exchanger, an official said. A Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company spokesman said that an investigation into the cause of the explosion has already begun.