Officials shut down an Atlantic coast port and urged people to leave the area Tuesday after nine containers with highly explosive materials were punctured.
Morehead City Fire Chief Wes Lail told television station WTVD the chemical involved is pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a powerful explosive. It's not clear what form the chemical was in.
It's also known as PETN, the substance authorities say was part of a device a Nigerian man tried to use to bring down a Detroit-bound Northwest flight on Christmas Day. PETN is often used in military explosives and found inside blasting caps. It is also the primary ingredient in detonating cords used for industrial explosions.
Authorities did not immediately say how big the containers were or how they were damaged.
Police told people near the port to stay away from windows and doors. Officers were sent downtown to knock on doors and relay alert and evacuation recommendations.
Morehead City police spokeswoman Amy H. Thompson said people close to the port were leaving, but she did not know how many.
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