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Contract Employee Still Missing After Mont Belvieu, Texas, Plant Explosion

An isooctane plant in Mont Belvieu in Chambers County in Texas exploded at around 12:15 p.m. Central Standard Time. Isooctane is a motor gasoline octane enhancement additive.

, as of 10:18 p.m., one contract employee was still unaccounted for. Company spokesman Rick Rainey said that they need to confirm whether anyone saw the contract employee leave or if anyone saw him not leave. He also stated that the company is in contact with the family of the missing worker as well as with the contractor.

The family of the missing contract employee identifies him as Ricky Shaw. According to his sister-in-law, co-workers saw him running away from the flames; he has not been heard from since.

Mark Shaw, the missing contract employee's brother, stated that his truck is still parked outside the facility. He additionally said that a worker working with him said Ricky was in the middle of a gas cloud when the explosion occurred, and as such does not look good for the outcome. Mark additionally stated that Ricky is divorced with two daughters, 13 and 9, who were his world. Mark said that Ricky worked double time and overtime shifts so he could take his kids places.

Before the explosion, a control room operator detected something abnormal and then began shutting down lines. After the explosion, the company closed the remainder of the valves.

Facebook users stated that the explosion was felt as far as Anahuac and Crosby, Texas.

Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia advised residents to avoid the area of the plant until the fire was extinguished. Mont Belvieu City Council ordered no evacuations. Barbers Hills ISD schools were placed on a modified shelter in place.

After the explosion, the stock () lost about 3.72 percent of its value. The volume was very heavy. As of Feb. 9, the company has not released any further information on its .

The plant is owned by . Enterprise is a company that owns more than 49,000 miles of natural gas pipeline, crude and petrochemical pipelines. The company has 27 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage capacity and 195 million barrels of storage capacity for NGLs, among many other petrochemical based assets. One of the founders of Enterprise is the late Houston philanthropist, who died last year, Dan Duncan.

Citations:

KTRK-TV/DT, , ABC13

Michelle Homer, , KHOU

Mike Morris, , Houston Chronicle