Chemical plant explosion critically injures two

An early morning explosion at a Chemical plant in North Memphis sent two people to the hospital with severe burns. The explosion happened shortly after 2 a.m. Monday at PennAKem on Chelsea Avenue. PennAKem is a high-tech specialty chemical company. We do not know what caused the fire, but we know 12 people were on site when the explosion happened. Two people were taken to The MED’s burn unit in critical condition. According to Lt. Wayne Cooke with the Memphis Fire Department, those who were injured received burns on 80 percent to 90 percent of their bodies.