Six injured in chemical plant blast

Six people were injured after an explosion at a chemical plant in Morganton, North Carolina, today authorities said.

The blast occurred at the Synthron Inc. plant and firefighters were on the scene and police urged residents to stay inside while they determined what chemicals were involved in the explosion.

Authorities called residents near the plant to tell them to close their windows and turn off their ventilation and heating systems while hazardous materials crews figure out what chemicals may be in the air, said Lisa Probst, a communications manager for Burke County emergency services.

Officials don’t know what caused the explosion, Probst said.

Two of the injured were taken to a hospital, officials said.

Synthron is a subsidiary of Paris-based Protex International, a company that manufactures speciality chemicals in the United States, Europe, Asia and North Africa.