La. chemical plant explosion causes evacuations

NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) — State police say nobody was hurt when explosions rocked a Multi-Chem Corp. plant in a New Iberia industrial park Tuesday afternoon.

Trooper Stephen Hammons says all employees are accounted for, and the fire is being allowed to burn itself out. He says Acadiana Regional Airport was closed, and a 1-mile area around the plant was evacuated.

The plant is near a primate center with 6,500 animals. University of Louisiana-Lafayette spokeswoman Christine Payton says those primates nearest to the plant were checked, and were fine.

The Daily Iberian newspaper reports that explosions could be heard 20 minutes after the first, which was about 4 p.m.

A spokesman for Multi-Chem Group in Houston said the company was gathering information on what happened. The company blends oilfield production chemicals.