Five contractors were injured yesterday morning when an explosion erupted at the Marathon Petroleum refinery near Garyville in St. John Parish, Louisiana.
Marathon Refinery Explosion Heard and Felt for Miles
First responders were called to the Marathon facility, located at Highway 61 and Marathon Avenue, around 9:30 a.m. on February 21st. According to local media reports, the blast was heard and felt for miles and sent a plume of smoke into the sky across the area.
“It was like the worst thunderstorm of my life,” one Laplace resident told WDSU News.
“You could hear the steam hissing after the boom, boom,” said her husband, a retired refinery worker. “And I said — woop — something’s wrong.”
Five contractors suffered minor injuries, including four treated on site. The fifth was taken to an area hospital as a precaution and has since been released.
The resulting fire was extinguished roughly 4 ½ hours after the emergency crews arrived on the scene.
Marathon Garyville Refinery is 3rd Largest in Nation
Located along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Marathon Petroleum’s Garyville facility has a capacity of 578,000 BPD, making it the third-largest crude oil refinery in the nation and a major supplier of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels.
While it’s not yet known what caused yesterday’s explosion, sources told Reuters that the blast erupted in the 110,000-BPD gas oil hydrocracker, which makes diesel. Marathon was apparently overhauling several units at the facility, but it’s not known if the hydrocracker was among them.
It’s also unclear whether the refinery sustained significant damage due to yesterday’s explosion. But if the resulting damage is extensive enough to halt production, regional fuel supplies would likely take a hit.
According to Bloomberg News, about 10% of the Gulf Coast’s total refining capacity was already down for repairs and maintenance when the explosion occurred.
Injured in a Refinery Explosion? Here’s What You Need to Do Next.
If you or someone you love was hurt while working at a refinery or other industrial facility, it’s essential you understand that the company and its insurance adjuster have only one goal: to avoid responsibility and limit your financial recovery to workers’ compensation benefits.
You must act quickly to protect your rights. Otherwise, you and your family may never receive full compensation for all of your injuries and losses.
Most importantly, don’t speak with the company’s insurance adjuster, make a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept any payments (other than your regular paycheck) until you’ve contacted an experienced refinery explosion lawyer with a record of success against the largest corporations in the world.
Undefeated Louisiana Refinery Explosion Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult.
Our Undefeated Refinery Explosion Lawyers are monitoring developments related to yesterday’s Marathon Petroleum explosion near Garyville and will post an update if new information becomes available.
In addition to being Undefeated, our Louisiana Plant Explosion Attorneys have won Billions for thousands of workers and families following the worst industrial explosions and disasters in recent history, including:
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If you or someone you love were hurt in connection with the February 21st explosion at the Marathon Garyville refinery, our attorneys are ready to help. Please call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to fill out our confidential contact form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family.
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