A more than 20-mile stretch of I-75 was shutdown as an explosion at a southern Kentucky factory Thursday morning left at least 36 injured. The interstate has since reopened.
Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin hospital reports 11 critically injured. Most of the injuries are burn-related. Seven have been flown to burn units in Lexington, Louisville and Nashville.
Marymount Medical Center in London also received 14 patients. None of those are reported to be serious.
Large scale evacuations within a 1.5 mile radius of the factory. Those were precautionary. No toxic chemicals were released.
A shelter has been setup at the Corbin Civic Center to accommodate those who have been evacuated.
St. Camillus Academy school is closing. Parents are asked to get their kids in an orderly fashion. Eastern Kentucky University's Corbin campus is also closing.
The blast at CTA Acoustics occurred around 7:30 this morning.
A low-hanging cloud was visible near the Laurel County plant, Bowman said, and homes south of the factory were being evacuated. It was later determined that cloud did not contain toxic material.
Firefighters from three counties are battling the blaze at the plant 90 miles south of Lexington, about a half-mile off exit-29 on I-75.
According to state economic development officials, the plant makes acoustical and thermal insulation products for the industrial and automotive industries and employs 561 workers. It was a 302,000 square foot facility.
A message left at the company's headquarters in Madison Heights, Mich., was not immediately returned.
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