Explosion Reported at Chevron Oil Refinery in the United States

Plumes of smoke billowed above Chevron’s refinery in southern California late Thursday after an explosion was reported, according to US media and circulating social media footage.

Videos shared by residents in El Segundo, a coastal city just south of Los Angeles International Airport, captured a massive fireball erupting from the facility, accompanied by a loud, prolonged rumble.

El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel said authorities had not received any reports of injuries, local broadcaster K-CAL News reported shortly before 11 p.m. (0600 GMT). He added that the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell confirmed that firefighters contained the blaze to one section of the refinery and stressed there was no need for evacuations. “It has been contained and there is no cause for alarm for El Segundo or the surrounding areas,” she said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated he had been briefed on the incident and that state agencies were working with local officials to safeguard nearby communities.

The Los Angeles Times reported that flames had significantly subsided within an hour of the blast, though smoke and fire remained visible across the South Bay.

Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, the largest oil processing facility on the US West Coast, handles more than 276,000 barrels of crude daily, according to the company.

Authorities in Los Angeles have been contacted for further comment.