A sheriff's deputy was hospitalized after inhaling chemicals released from the explosion.

Explosions were reported at a chemical plant in flood-hit Crosby, Texas near Houston early morning on Thursday, resulting in the hospitalization of a sheriff's deputy.

In a statement, the company that owns the factory said: "At approximately 2am CDT [07:00 GMT], we were notified by the Harris County Emergency Operations Center of two explosions and black smoke coming from the Arkema Inc plant in Crosby, Texas.

Executives at the Arkema Group, who owns the chemical plant, warned on Wednesday that the six feet of flooding inundating the factory had damaged refrigerated storage of volatile chemicals, and an explosion and fire was imminant.

Officials ordered a 1.5-mile evacuation radius around the plant.

More is likely to come, the company officials said after news of the explosions. “We want local residents to be aware that product is stored in multiple locations on the site, and a threat of additional explosion remains. Please do not return to the area within the evacuation zone,” they said.

According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the deputy was hospitalized after inhaling toxic chemicals released by the explosion. Nine others who were in the vicinity took themselves to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

“Organic peroxides are extremely flammable and, as agreed with public officials, the best course of action is to let the fire burn itself out,” the company that produces peroxides used to make plastics, paints, and polystyrene said.

The hurricane that hit the coast of Texas, dropping a year's worth of rain within the span of a day, resulted in massive flooding. At least 33 people have been confirmed as killed by the storm.