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The South Bay was rocked on Wednesday morning by what felt like an "earthquake" after reports of an explosion at an oil refinery in Torrance. There are reports of only two minor injuries.
The explosion occurred shortly before 9 a.m. at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, and social media soon became flooded with videos and pictures of the facility's flares burning off and the ash fallout in the area. The affected unit was identified as the catalytic cracking unit. According to The Daily Breeze, that particular unit in the refinery at the corner of 190th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard has been offline since Monday due to a mechanical issue.
"It sounded like somebody hit my front door. It freaked my dog out," Jill Nowak told the Breeze.
Although air readings are normal in the area, the Torrance Police Department is advising all people in the area to remain indoors and shelter in place.
Although the explosion remains under investigation, Captain Steve Deuel told the L.A. Times that it may have been a petroleum leak that caused the incident. News choppers overhead are showing footage of what looks like the blast site, damaged and covered in ash.
MORE: Aerial footage from @KTLA shows damage from explosion at @exxonmobil refinery in #Torrance pic.twitter.com/ouU35CbaPN
— L.A. Times: L.A. Now (@LANow) February 18, 2015
Weird ash like substance falling in Torrance! What's up?? pic.twitter.com/UjVcvDnhEA
— 🌻🇺🇦CalGal🇺🇦🌻 (@PVReiki) February 18, 2015
This is the #Exxon Mobil Refinery in #Torrance from Torrance Courthouse. Helicopters hovering. People taking photos. pic.twitter.com/2mkmP5A9Wk
— Jessica Martinez (@jessicamartinez) February 18, 2015
