At least 30 injured in La. plant explosion

GEISMAR, La. — Officials say ambulances and helicopters have taken at least 30 people from a burning chemical plant after an explosion in Louisiana.

Residents of the community of Geismar, about 20 miles southeast of Baton Rouge, were told to remain indoors with doors and windows closed.

Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman Jean Kelly says helicopters took three or four people Thursday from the plant owned by The Williams Companies Inc., and ground ambulances took 30. She did not have other details about injuries.

Kelly says tests have not found dangerous levels of chemicals in the air so far.

Louisiana State Police Capt. Doug Cain says the explosion occurred around 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the plant. It makes ethylene and propylene — highly flammable gases that are basic building blocks in the petrochemical industry.