An explosion rocked BP's huge refinery in Texas City, Texas today. Local television reported that four people were killed in the blast.
Another 10 people were rushed to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, according to the televised report.
The BP refinery, the third largest refinery in the country, has a throughput of 470,000 barrels per day.
"Our firemen are on scene assessing the situation and we have no further information at this time," said a spokeswoman for the Texas City Fire Department.
Clouds of black smoke were billowing from several fires at the plant. One refinery expert said the site appeared to be part of the refinery used to make gasoline.
BP's Bill Stephens said the explosion was on the west end of the complex but could not confirm what units were affected.