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One Dead After Texas Chemical Plant Explosion

An explosion at a Goodyear chemical plant killed a worker while injuring six others, and also caused a small release of ammonia.

HOUSTON (AP) -- An explosion at a Goodyear chemical plant killed a worker and injured six others on Wednesday.

The body of the worker, whose name was not released, was found under debris about seven hours after the 7:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) blast in a heat exchange unit, company spokesman Scott Baughman said.

The explosion also caused a small release of ammonia, which is used to cool processed liquids.

One of the injured workers was being kept at a hospital for observation for breathing ammonia fumes, plant officials said. Five others were treated and released.

Baughman said the damage and ammonia release were contained in a small area of the plant, which makes synthetic rubber for tires.

The plant was evacuated for several hours. About 200 people were there at the time of the blast.

There was no danger to the public, plant officials said.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

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