Jefferson County Sheriff Zena Stephens has issued a shelter-in-place order for residents on the west side of Port Arthur following reports of an explosion at the Valero refinery.
Videos sent in by viewers show a large fire at the refinery, with thick smoke billowing into the sky. Multiple videos circulating online appear to capture both the explosion and the fire that followed.
Recommended Videos
KFDM News in Beaumont sent KPRC 2 videos of the scene. Pat Sebastian also gave KPRC 2 permission to use his footage with credit.
According to the Port Arthur Police Department via Facebook, residents in the affected area are advised to shelter in place.
Officials also warn to expect road closures around Highways 82 and 87, along with traffic disruptions on surrounding roadways.
At this time, no injuries have been reported.
Authorities are urging the public to continue monitoring reliable sources for updates as crews respond to the scene.
KFDM News in Beaumont contributed to this coverage. Read their article here.