Fresh fire erupts at Harvey-hit Texas chemical plant

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A fresh blaze broke out at a chemical plant in Texas that was flooded as a result of storm Harvey on Friday, spewing thick columns of black smoke into the sky.

The fire began around 22:00 GMT, said emergency officials. No casualties were reported so far.

It was the second day that flames and smoke could be seen at the Arkema plant in Crosby.

Earlier on Thursday, two explosions were reported from the plant, after the company warned that the refrigeration system at the chemical plant has failed due to the heavy rainfall and floods caused by storm Harvey and an explosion is highly possible.

The storm, which made initial landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane in Texas last Friday, was later downgraded to a tropical storm but continued to batter Texas with rain.

More than 40 people have died in the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in half a century.

A doll floats in the water after Tropical Storm Harvey in Orange, Texas, US, September 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

A car damaged by tropical storm Harvey is seen in East Houston, Texas, US, September 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

People wait on the front deck of a flooded home on a farm after Tropical Storm Harvey in Orange, Texas, US, September 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

A US Air Force pararescueman is winched down from a helicopter over flood waters caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas, US, September 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo

President Donald Trump has asked Congress for an initial 7.85 billion US dollars for recovery efforts for the relief effort, the White House budget said on Friday.

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Source(s): AP ,Reuters