An explosion rocked a gasoline processing unit of Exxon Mobil in Torrance, California on Wednesday, leaving four workers injured and damaging nearby buildings.

The explosion, which occurred at about 9:00 a.m., caused flames to flare up. A worker at the plant described the blast as like that of an earthquake that took the ground shaking.

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"All I heard was a loud sound... All I saw was smoke and people running, so I made sure I got out of there," Cory Mislap, a plant electrical contractor said.

Refinery units were heavily damaged with some parts smoldering. Fumes from burnt metal smelled of sulfur and other toxic chemicals.

Workers were immediately sent home after the explosion as investigators work to determine the cause of the blast. But Torrance Fire Captain Steve Deuel said there were no early indications of a foul play.

Deuel said firefighters were able to immediately put out the fire which followed the explosion, as well as contain the gas leak caused by the blast.  

In a statement, Exxon Mobil said all of their employees have been accounted for and that their injured personnel have already been given medical attention.

Torrance Mayor Patrick Furey urged people living in nearby communities to take necessary precautions against possible falling debris and inhalation of toxic fumes. Children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems are advised to take extra care.

"The most important thing is to shelter in place, stay indoors, no outdoor activity, turn the air conditioners off, keep the windows closed," Furey said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District had immediately deployed  a team that would take air samples for analysis.

The California Department of Industrial Relations had also ordered Exxon Mobil to halt operations at its central gasoline producing unit pending result of the investigation. The refinery has a capacity of producing 155,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The agency said the refinery shutdown could last upto six months, triggering concerns of increased oil prices in Los Angeles due to a possible tight supply. 

The refinery, which covers about 750 acres (300 hectares), has 650 employees and 550 contractors.

TagsExxon Mobil, gas, refinery, Explosion, Torrance, california