A powerful explosion and fire have been reported at an oil refinery in Chalmette, near New Orleans in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Axar.az reports, citing Fox News, the incident occurred on Friday afternoon at the Chalmette Refining facility.

Video footage from the scene showed a large plume of smoke rising from the refinery, which processes roughly 189,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Local authorities confirmed that emergency crews were dispatched to the site, with road closures introduced as responders worked to contain the situation. Officials urged residents to avoid the area and allow emergency services to operate safely.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was in contact with local officials and first responders, noting that authorities were actively monitoring the situation and coordinating response efforts.

At this stage, it remains unclear whether there are any injuries or fatalities.