| [{"text": "A series of explosions tore through the huge Phillips Petroleum Co. plastics plant near here, injuring more than a hundred and closing parts of the Houston Ship Channel."}, {"text": "There were no immediate reports of deaths, but officials said a number of workers were still unaccounted for last night."}, {"text": "The Bartlesville, Okla., oil company late yesterday still hadn't said officially what caused the explosions and fires, which sent columns of heavy black smoke billowing high into the air."}, {"text": "One local Phillips manager said a seal blew in one of the plant's reactors."}, {"text": "Glenn Cox, Phillips' president and chief operating officer, and other Phillips officials flew from Bartlesville to assess the damage and determine the cause of the afternoon explosions."}, {"text": "In composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Phillips Petroleum shares fell $1.125 to $23.125."}, {"text": "The plastics plant is located on an 800-acre tract in the heart of the petrochemical corridor that reaches along the U.S. Gulf Coast."}, {"text": "The U.S. Coast Guard closed six miles of the Houston Ship Channel, where about 150 companies have operations, because the thick, black smoke obscured the area."}, {"text": "The Port of Houston closed its terminal for handling bulk cargo."}, {"text": "Broken water lines and gas leaks hindered firefighters' efforts, but by late yesterday authorities said they had the fire under control."}, {"text": "The blasts blew out windows, spewed debris for miles and crumpled the ceiling in an area elementary school."}, {"text": "The initial fireball was caught by cameras in downtown Houston, about 10 miles away."}, {"text": "Nearby Pasadena, Texas, police reported that 104 people had been taken to area hospitals, but a spokeswoman said that toll could rise."}, {"text": "The injured, including three in critical condition, were treated for burns, breathing problems and cuts from flying glass, hospital officials said."}, {"text": "The plant employs between 800 and 900 on three shifts."}, {"text": "The number working at the time of the blast wasn't known."}, {"text": "Yesterday's explosions were the second round in two months at the plastics plant."}, {"text": "In late August, four contract workers were injured and one Phillips employee died after an explosion at a fuel supply line near the facility's boiler house."}, {"text": "The Phillips facility manufactures polyethylene, polypropylene and K-resin, plastics used in a wide array of applications, including milk jugs and toys."}, {"text": "Plastics are the cornerstone of Phillips' chemicals operations, which is the biggest single contributor to the company's profits."}] |