A large explosion at the Valero Refinery on Monday prompted authorities in Port Arthur to issue an emergency shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.City officials said the alert was issued “to ensure the safety of all residents” in affected areas, including Sabine Pass, Pleasure Island, and south of Highway 73 stretching west from Stirlwell Boulevard.According to Reuters, the incident occurred late on Monday at the refinery, which has a capacity of about 380,000 barrels per day. Local reports cited by the agency said the blast was followed by a fire at the site.Zena Stephens told CBS affiliate KFDM that no injuries had been reported. She added that the explosion was likely caused by an industrial heater.Emergency services remain on alert as authorities monitor the situation. The cause of the incident has not yet been officially confirmed, and investigations are expected to follow.
