DOYLINE, Louisiana (AP) -- An explosion Thursday rocked a plant where military bombs are disassembled and recycled, forcing the evacuation of at least 600 students from two schools, authorities said.

The blast at the Explo Systems Inc. site resulted in authorities asking residents of the eastern section of Doyline, which has about 800 people, to leave voluntarily.

There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

The students from Doyline High School and Union Elementary School were taken to a school in nearby Sibley, the Webster Parish sheriff's office said.

The blast occurred about 8:30 a.m., said Col. Carl Thompson, assistant camp commander at Camp Minden, the former Army ammunition plant that is home to Explo and other businesses.

Explo Systems, which opened its site in January, has a military contract to disassemble bombs and recycle bomb components.

The explosion was the second in recent weeks at Camp Minden, where large-caliber ammunition was produced for the military until it closed in 1994.

On August 14, a fire and explosions rocked the Valentec Systems plant at Camp Minden, destroying about half the facility's buildings.

No injuries were reported and the fire was allowed to burn itself out. That company makes battlefield flares for the military.

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