UPDATE 10/4/27 at 5 p.m.: Eastman Chemical Company has announced that the shelter in place advisory for personnel on site and for those living near the plant was lifted by 4:30.
"We appreciate the cooperation from all our neighbors and community during this time. In an event like this, we take every precaution to ensure the safety of our employees and our site neighbors," the statement said.
UPDATE 10/4/27 at 2:30 p.m.: Officials with Eastman Chemical Company have posted another update on Wednesday's explosion:
"Eastman experienced a process upset in the coal gasification area of its Kingsport, Tenn., manufacturing site. There have been no injuries reported beyond first aid. We're following all safety protocols to assess and secure the area. We’re working to determine the cause and assess the impact to operations and the business."
UPDATE 10/4/27 at 2 p.m.: Kingsport emergency officials told citizens in a reverse 911 call that there was no chemical release from the earlier explosion at Eastman Chemical Company.
Still, a shelter-in-place order remains for people within a quarter-miles of the facility.
In an earlier statement, Eastman said "The shelter in place advisory was issued in an abundance of caution in response to a process upset in the coal gasification area of its Kingsport manufacturing site.."
Wednesday's scare comes on the anniversary of a tragedy at the plant in 1960, where 16 workers were killed in an explosion.
No injuries have been reported from this incident.
Read more at WCYB.com.
Original story
Fire crews were dispatched to Eastman Chemical Company in Kingsport as several reports of explosions have been heard coming from the campus.
A journalist for News 5 posted outside the plant described a loud, audible explosion coming from the property.
No injuries have been reported.
Click here to see a view of the plant from Bays Mountain.
Below is a photo taken from WCYB's Bays Mountain cam at 10:50 a.m. Wednesday morning:
Kingsport City Schools spokesperson Andy True says all students at all city schools have been told to shelter in place.
Northeast State Community College's Kingsport campus has also been instructed to shelter in place.
Here is the official statement from the Eastman Chemical Company:
Around 10:00 a.m., Eastman experienced a process upset in the coal gasification area of its Kingsport manufacturing site. The upset created a loud noise and a visible plume.No one was injured.
In an excess of caution, our employees are currently sheltered in place as we are working to secure the area. Until more information is known, near neighbors are advised to do the same. That means to stay indoors, turn off your HVAC system. More information will be updated on eastman.com, the Eastman Careline 423-229-CARE and local media.
A person on WCYB's Facebook page shared a photo of the explosion from Cave's Drug Store, saying it "shook our building like an earthquake twice."
