Explosion in industrial area of Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- An explosion at a chemical plant in an industrial area of Kansas City sent a huge smoke cloud above the downtown skyline Wednesday.

The explosion and fire in the area known as the East Bottoms, just northeast of downtown, billowed smoke that could be seen for miles. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Kansas City Fire Marshal Floyd Peoples was unsure exactly what company's plant had caught fire and did not know what chemical it produced. But he said all safety precautions were being taken.

The area had not yet been evacuated and Peoples was not sure if that would be necessary.