May 18, 2013
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Police and fire officials in Memphis say an explosion inside a chemical plant has injured two workers.
According to The Commercial Appeal, two employees of Penn A Kem received critical injuries in the accident around 1 a.m. Monday. They were taken the Regional Medical Center.
Police had an area around the plant cordoned off for a few hours, but opened it to traffic around 5 a.m.
There were no immediate details about what caused the explosion or the nature of the victims' injuries. Their names weren't released.
Fire officials said the explosion involved furfurylamine and methyl alcohol.
The company's website describes furfurylamine as a colorless to yellow liquid used in engine cleaning formulations.
Safety cautions include avoiding breathing the substance's fumes or skin contact with it.
