An explosion at the Freeport LNG at Quintana Island, Texas has caused area residents to question their safety, and worldwide concern about how the incident will affect fuel prices.

Get our free mobile app

The explosion was caused by a fire in the terminal's liquefaction delivery system, according to an incident report filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Freeport LNG Explosion

The good news: no injuries were reported after the incident at the Brazoria County oil and gas export facility, according to KHOU. The Surfside Police Department described it as a 'small explosion'.

The area has been secured, all the employees have been accounted for, and the company says there is no danger or concern to the community in the surrounding area. Due to the fire, the company said the facility will remain shut down for a minimum of three weeks. The beach has been evacuated as a precaution, but there is no shelter in place or evacuation measures required for nearby residents.

Surfside Area Reacts to 'Small' Explosion

Those who live in the area close to the plant said they heard the explosion and felt it as well.

We were in our home. We felt the ground shake and it was like rolling thunder. That’s what it sounded like. My husband flew out the door and said 'there’s an explosion over at the LNG'.

-Surfside Resident Maribel Hill.

Will the Freeport Explosion Affect Gas Prices?

The short answer: yes. European gas prices have gone up 40 percent since the explosion, according to Markets Insider. Since the Texas Gulf Coast plant will be closed for at least three weeks due to the explosion, this will increase the risk of shortages, especially overseas, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Spectrum News says natural gas prices are falling in the United States. Normally, Freeport LNG exports about 2 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas per day, about 15% of the nation's LNG exports.

Who Are The 5 Richest People in Texas, Not Counting Elon Musk?

There are more billionaires in America than in any other country, according to Stacker. For some people, the money just keeps pouring in, as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2026.

However, Bezos is not the world's richest person right now. That title goes to the founder of SpaceX, Tesla, and the new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk. Musk owns a mansion in Austin but says his main home is a $50,000 rental from SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas.

Forbes lists 63 billionaires in Texas, including Elon Musk. Let's find out who's at the top of the list in the Lone Star State for 2022, right behind Musk.

The Top 10 Worst Places to Live in Texas

While it's always a good idea to know about areas with the lowest crime rates and best recreational opportunities when you are looking for a place to live, it’s also important to know which places to avoid. Even if you move to a neighborhood with a low crime rate, you could also be close to less safe communities.

Here are the top 10 worst places to live in Texas according to moneyinc.com.

More From Newstalk 860