1 dead, 73 hurt in explosion at Louisiana chemical plant

At least 30 people have been taken to hospital after an explosion at a Louisiana chemical plant, officials say.

One person was killed and dozens of others were injured when a ground-shaking explosion at a chemical plant in Louisiana triggered a blaze, US officials said.

Louisiana’s health department said 73 people were treated at hospitals for injuries ranging from minor to critical following the blast.

State police Captain Doug Cain said a body was found by hazardous materials crews combing through the aftermath of the explosion at the facility which was owned by The Williams Companies Inc, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mr Cain said all workers had been accounted for by this afternoon.

The company said the blast happened at 8.37am local time at the plant in an industrial area of Geismar, a Mississippi River community about 20 miles (32km) south-east of Baton Rouge. The cause was not immediately known.