The city is reeling under flood waters after tropical storm Harvey made landfall in Texas last week.

Company officials said that the Arkema plant at Crosby lost refrigeration of chemical compounds which need to be kept cool due to the floods, and added that there is no way to prevent the inevitable.

"Any fire will probably resemble a large gasoline fire," Reuters news agency quoted the company's CEO Richard Rowe as saying.

"The high water that exists on site, and the lack of power, leave us with no way to prevent it," Rowe added.

The company has also warned nearby citizens that black smoke produced due to the explosion would irritate skin, eyes and lungs.

At least 33 people have died so far in the aftermath of the tropical storm.