6 hurt in explosion at N.C. chemical plant

An explosion at a chemical plant in Morganton, N.C., this morning injured six people, including two who were taken to a hospital, authorities said.

The explosion at the Synthron Inc. plant on Amherst Road occurred at 11:45 a.m. EST. Firefighters quickly were on the scene and police urged residents to stay inside while they determined what chemicals were involved in the explosion.

Officials don’t know yet what caused the explosion, said Lisa Probst, a communications manager for Burke County emergency services.

Synthron is a subsidiary of Paris-based Protex International, a company that manufactures speciality chemicals in the U.S., Europe, Asia and North Africa.