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Empresas y finanzas

Funnel cloud passes over Texas refining hub, no damage


    HOUSTON (Reuters) - A slender funnel cloud passed over the refining hub of Texas City, Texas, on Monday, but never touched down, the city's emergency management director said.

    "There's no damage due to the funnel," said Derek Duckett, Texas City emergency management director. "I was watching it. The funnel came halfway down to the ground. It never touched the ground."

    Asked specifically if there was any damage reported by the three refineries in Texas City, Duckett said, "No, none. None's been reported."

    The funnel, which spun up shortly before 1 p.m. CDT (1800 GMT,) moved over the southeast side of Texas City before passing over Galveston Bay, Duckett said.

    Texas City is home to three refineries, two of which are owned by Marathon Petroleum Corp - the 80,000 barrel per day (bpd) Texas City refinery and the 451,000 bpd Galveston Bay refinery.

    Valero Energy Corp owns a 225,000 bpd refinery in Texas City.

    Representatives of Marathon were not immediately available to discuss operations at the refineries.

    A Valero spokesman declined to discuss operations at the Texas City refinery.

    (Reporting by Erwin Seba and Tom Brown)