Explosion rocks central Illinois plastics plant; two killed, more missing

Saturday, April 24th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ILLIOPOLIS, Ill. (AP) _ A series of explosions rocked a plastics plant in central Illinois, killing at least two people and injuring a number of others. Two people remained missing Saturday, authorities said.

Illiopolis residents living within a mile of the plant were evacuated and a nearby interstate highway was closed. Emergency sirens were sounded in two nearby communities as well, where evacuation was recommended but not required, said Sheriff Neil Williamson.

``We're treating it as a worst case scenario,'' he said. ``We feel as if the cloud of smoke is toxic.''

The explosion happened at about 10:45 p.m. Friday in a chemical reactor at the Formosa Plastics plant, said Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Patti Thompson.

The cause of the explosions was unclear.

A witness who was driving on the interstate said he saw an orange flash similar to lightning, followed by a muffled boom, then an enormous fireball 100 feet high.

Two bodies were discovered early Saturday as small crews of firefighters began to surround the plant, which was ``60 or 70 percent destroyed,'' said police Capt. Jeff Burkler. He did not identify the victims.

At least three injured people were taken to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, but the extent of their injuries was not immediately released. Four others were treated for smoke inhalation.

Many evacuated residents were taken to a Decatur mall, while a Kmart in Springfield was also being used as a staging area.

Fires were still raging in several areas of the plant early Saturday and Williamson said more than 150 fire and rescue workers were expected on the scene.

A short time after the explosion, Interstate 72 was closed in both directions, from Illiopolis to Niantic, which is between Springfield and Decatur in central Illinois. The blast also knocked out power in both communities.

Thompson said the interstate was reopened shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday, after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency had determined that smoke from the fire was not a hazard to motorists' health.

Illinois Farm Bureau spokesman John Hawkins, who said he lives about five miles from the plant, said he felt the explosion.

``We were getting ready for bed and we heard this loud boom and the house shook,'' he said.

A telephone call to the plant Friday night went unanswered. The plant manufactures polyvinyl chloride used in PVC pipe and other materials for construction, medical supplies and automotive parts.