3 Dead, 1 Missing Following Explosion in Louisiana The area around the explosion is now secure, officials said.

 -- An explosion at a plant in western Louisiana has killed three people and injured several others this afternoon, authorities said. One person was reported missing.

The cause of the blast at the Packaging Corporation of America in Beauregard Parish was not immediately clear, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff said.

The area around the explosion is now secure, the sheriff added.

This story is developing. Please check back for more updates.

ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report.