7 injured in oil storage tank explosion in Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Seven people were injured, four critically, in an oil storage tank explosion Saturday at the Magellan plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, authorities said.

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The explosion happened shortly after 10 a.m., the Caller-Times of Corpus Christi reported. Firefighters and first responders found heavy fire and smoke upon arriving at the refinery, the newspaper reported.

Deputy Fire Chief Richie Quintero said that by 10:36, all patients had been transported to area hospitals, KIII-TV reported. One of the victims was taken to a burn center in San Antonio, KSAT reported.

Officials said they will begin an investigation to discover what caused the explosion.

“It’ll be a large effort, but together, hopefully we can find something that was either could be fixed, probable what could come down to the exact nature of what occurred, so that we can hopefully put preventative measures in place,” Quintero told KIII.

“It’s a sad day for Magellan,” Mark Calhoun, manager of terminal and process operations at Magellan’s facility in Corpus Christi, told the Caller-Times. “The welfare of the men that were injured and their families are the first things on our minds. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them.”

Calhoun said the fire started at an above-ground storage tank that held residual white crude oil. Employees were cleaning and conducting an inspection at the storage tank before the explosion, the newspaper reported.

“We don’t really know just yet on what caused the fire, but there will be a thorough internal investigation to discover what happened,” Calhoun told the Caller-Times. “The safety of our employees and the surrounding community is our top concern and priority.”

In a statement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is aiding Corpus Christi officials in their emergency response efforts.

“The State of Texas is working closely with Magellan and Corpus Christi officials to aid in the emergency response efforts and to provide immediate help to those injured in the explosion,” Abbott said. “The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is monitoring air quality in the area, and the Texas Division Of Emergency Management is on the ground to provide support. The Texas Department of Public Safety is also working to provide assistance to first responders on the ground. The state is ready to deploy additional resources to respond to this event and keep the community safe. Cecilia and I ask all Texans join us in prayer for those injured in this explosion, for our first responders, and for the safety of those in the area.”

Cox Media Group