Two dead in explosion at French petrochemical plant

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - Two people were killed and six injured in an explosion Wednesday at a petrochemical plant operated by energy giant Total in eastern France, the company said.

A Total spokesman said the explosion happened at about 15:15 p.m. (2:15 p.m. British time) at the steam cracking unit of the Carling-Saint Avold site in the Moselle area.

"The steam cracker had been halted due to recent bad weather. One of its components blew up when it was restarted," the spokesman said.

"The six injured people have been evacuated to a local hospital," he said.

The Carling town hall said the situation was now under control and there was no gas leak.

Rescue workers were at the site, searching the debris for possible other victims.

The Carling plant manufactures different types of plastics including those used to make products like water and shampoo bottles, CDs, video cassettes, cups and plates.

According to the factory's website, the steam cracker is the main unit at the site. It produces a variety of materials including ethylene, propylene, methane and styrene.

Khalid Benhammou, a labour union representative from the factory, said about 800 staff worked there and the safety record was good. He told Reuters the last serious incident occurred in 1994, when a worker was electrocuted.

(Reporting by Gilbert Reilhac and Elizabeth Pineau, writing by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Crispian Balmer)