Morgan City plant explodes

Morgan City authorities are examining the cause of an explosion at a power plant that left a significant portion of the city without power Tuesday night, a police spokesman said.

Police determined a transformer blew up at the Joseph J. Cefalu Sr. Municipal Steam Plant, but they are not sure what caused the transformer to explode, Assistant Police Chief Glenn Blanco said.

Police were called about the explosion around 6 p.m., Blanco said.

A fire ignited as a result of the explosion, but the fire has been put out, he said.

Power was still out in most of the city as of 9 p.m., Blanco said. Authorities did not know how long it will take for power to be restored.

The plant was evacuated and nobody was hurt, Blanco said,

Authorities from the Police Department, Fire Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office were still assessing the extent of the damage to the plant at 701 Avoca Road, near Railroad Avenue and Myrtle Street, Blanco said.

Authorities were redirecting traffic away from the plant, Blanco said.