A chemical reaction was the cause of a series of explosions at the PCI Synthesis chemical plant in Newburyport, Mass., early Thursday morning, state officials said in a statement on Friday.
The explosions did not injure any workers, but blew a hole in the roof of the plant and forced the evacuation of the chemical company and two nearby businesses.
The explosions "occurred during a sampling procedure of product from a large vat," according to a joint statement released by State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey and Newburyport Deputy Fire Chief Steven Bradbury.
Just months ago, federal regulators from two agencies cited and fined PCI Synthesis for several safety and environmental violations.
It’s also the third explosion at one of the company's chemical factories in the state since 1997. The other two were at the company’s Leominster plant.