A series of large explosions at a Florida gas plant has injured several workers while about 15 others are missing.
Twenty-four people were working the night shift at Blue Rhino, a propane-tank business, when the blasts began and 15 people were unaccounted for early on Tuesday, the Orlando Sentinel said, citing Tavares city administrator John Drury.
The first explosions began a little before 11pm on Monday (1300 AEST Tuesday) and lasted for more than half an hour, the paper said, before resuming again about 12.30am (1430 AEST) on Tuesday in tractor-trailers loaded with pallets of propane tanks, said Richard Keith.
Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders said the blasts occurred inside the plant and blew the roof off.
Residents described sounds similar to a shotgun or fireworks and saw bursts of light and a bright orange glow above the treetops, they said. Some reported a "giant fireball" in the sky.
”I heard a loud bomb sounds,” says resident Lisa Garner. “I thought somebody ran into my house.”
Aerial footage of the scene early on Tuesday morning showed fires still burning over a large area, shooting large flames and plumes of smoke into the night sky. Emergency crews could also be seen massing nearby.
Bryan Koon, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said he was still getting "preliminary information" from local authorities.
He said he did not have any "firm" numbers on injuries or deaths.
Mr Koon did confirm that local authorities had evacuated people within a one mile (1.6-kilometre) radius of the plant.
At least 200 fire personnel are working to control the scene.
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