By Basant El-Faramawy
Emergency crews responded Wednesday morning to an explosion at the Loveland Products chemical plant in Greenville, Mississippi, sending a large plume of black smoke into the air.
Explosion and Response
Crews were notified just after 7 a.m. of the blast at the facility, which produces fertilizer, plant nutrition and crop protection products. The city of Greenville, population about 26,000, lies in the Mississippi Delta region roughly 120 miles northwest of Jackson.
No Injuries Reported
No injuries were immediately reported, according to Sara Moreland Hester, a deputy emergency management director for Washington County and a local firefighter. By midmorning, the fire was controlled but not fully extinguished.
Herbicide Chemical Involved
Preliminary information from plant management indicates the explosion involved a fire associated with a herbicide chemical. Nutrien, the parent company of Loveland, said the fire was “being managed” and that plant leadership was working with first responders.
Residents Advised to Avoid Area
Mayor Errick D. Simmons urged residents to avoid the immediate area as officials monitor the situation. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has dispatched personnel to the site.
