AP

Flames and smoke rise from a ruptured gas line near U.S. Highway 69 in Port Arthur.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Port Arthur officials are still urging residents near an overnight pipeline explosion to stay indoors and turn off outside ventilation.

The Union Carbide-Dow Chemical pipeline exploded about 2 a.m. Thursday just off U.S. 69, about 1 miles northwest of Texas 73 in the Stonegate section of Port Arthur. Flames soared about 100 feet into the sky, but no injuries or damage was reported.

The pipeline flow was shut off about 11/2 hours later. Port Arthur Fire Chief Larry Richards says the fire was much-diminished after the ethylene flow was shut off, but it could take several hours for the residual chemical to burn off.