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An explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco Wednesday night injured dozens of people and sent flames shooting high into the night sky, leaving the factory a smoldering ruin and causing major damage to surrounding buildings.

The blast at West Fertilizer in West, a community about 20 miles north of Waco, happened shortly before 8 p.m. and could be heard as far away as Waxahachie, 45 miles to the north.

There was no immediate word from officials about fatalities or the severity of the explosion, as Texas Gov. Rick Perry said state officials were also waiting for details about the extent of the damage.

"We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident," Perry said in a statement. "We have also mobilized state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene."

But aerial footage showed fires still smoldering in the ruins of the plant and in several surrounding buildings, and people being treated for injuries on the flood-lit local football field, which had been turned into a staging area for emergency responders.

Debby Marak told The Associated Press that when she finished teaching her religion class Wednesday night, she noticed a lot of smoke in the area across town near the plant, which is near a nursing home. She said she drove over to see what was happening, and that when she got there, two boys came running toward her screaming that the authorities ordered everyone out because the plant was going to explode.

She said she drove about a block when the blast happened.

"It was like being in a tornado," Marak, 58, said by phone. "Stuff was flying everywhere. It blew out my windshield."

"It was like the whole earth shook."

She drove 10 blocks and called her husband and asked him to come get her. When they got to their home about 2 miles south of town, her husband told her what he'd seen: a huge fireball that rose like "a mushroom cloud."

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As many as 60 to 70 people may have been killed in a fertilizer plant explosion on Wednesday night in West, Texas, KWTX reported. West EMS Director Dr. George Smith told the TV station that hundreds of people were also injured in the blast.

Tommy Muska, West's mayor, said at a news conference that the exact number of deaths was still unknown. However, buildings in a five-block radius from the plant were severely damaged by the explosion, Muska said.

Cause of the blast has not yet been determined.

Emergency crews, who were dispatched from throughout central Texas, are now being forced to pull back due to concerns of a second explosion. Several firefighters and other first responders have suffered injuries, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported.

The first call came in at approximately 7:50 p.m. Several injuries were reported at the plant, which is located near Waco, and a request was made for multiple ambulances. KWTX also reported several buildings were destroyed and a nearby nursing home was damaged.

According to CBS DFW, several residents in the nursing home and a nearby apartment building were injured.

West ISD, the public school district in West, announced on Twitter that all schools will be closed for the rest of the week. Authorities in the area are also reportedly advising residents to leave town immediately.

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Dammit Duchess. You beat me to the punch everytime

Another horrible scene. I really hope this was just an accident and not another terroristic act.

A father & his son filming/watching the fire & then it explodes :(

Despite being located within a short walk of a nursing home, school and residential buildings, West Fertilizer Co in central Texas had no blast walls and had filed no contingency plan to the Environmental Protection Agency for a major explosion or fire at the site.

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That must have been one hell of an explosion, holy crap!

Reports are coming in that 11 volunteer firfighters were trying to put out the fire when it exploded. They believe they all died.

(04-19-2013, 01:00 PM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]That must have been one hell of an explosion, holy crap!

It was very bad. This is an apt. building that's close by -

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someone's home -

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a railroad boxcar -

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many of these people were first responder volunteers, they were on site when the explosion occurred -

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I read yesterday that the explosion measured over 2.0 on the earthquake scale and was felt by residents over 50 miles away.

Don't think the exact number of casualties has been released yet; emergency personnel is still working on recovery efforts.

So damn sad; the entire city is devasted (either physically and/or emotionally).

Has there been any statements regarding the cause of the fire/explosion?

I guess this means the 20^th BBQ cook off has been canceled?

(04-19-2013, 04:01 PM)username Wrote: [ -> ]Has there been any statements regarding the cause of the fire/explosion?

Nothing definite, but looking like an accident, possibly due to neglect in safety measures.

FROM REUTERS TODAY:
WEST, Texas (Reuters) - Investigators searched for clues on Friday to the cause of a Texas fertilizer plant explosion that obliterated sections of a small town and killed at least 12 people, including volunteer firefighters who raced to the scene to douse a blaze.

There was no indication of foul play in the blast at West Fertilizer Co, a privately owned facility that authorities said had not been inspected in two years.

(04-19-2013, 04:37 PM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]I guess this means the 20^th BBQ cook off has been canceled?

Or, it got a surprise early kick-off. Smiley_emoticons_slash

(04-19-2013, 04:37 PM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]I guess this means the 20^th BBQ cook off has been canceled?

*gasp* Bend over!

(04-19-2013, 02:26 PM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]Reports are coming in that 11 volunteer firfighters were trying to put out the fire when it exploded. They believe they all died.

I just heard a report that said 12 bodies have been recovered & 60 people are still missing.

Have seen a couple people from the town interviewed, including law enforcement. They can barely keep it together; all saying that everybody knows somebody who is missing or dead. Hard not to tear up when listening to them.

Yesterday, a memorial was held and some of the survivors were allowed to return to their homes.

Here's the latest from this morning.

Authorities have identified four more sets of remains of first responders who battled last week's fire and explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. Wednesday's blast and injured more than 200, according to officials cited by .

According to Reuters, the plant was storing 270 tons of highly volatile ammonium nitrate fertilizer that should have been reported to the Department of Homeland Security but was not. The Texas Department of State Health Services was aware of the dangerous chemical but failed to alert DHS, the news agency reports.

The bombing in Boston overshadowed this, unfortunately I don't think it's getting the kind of attention it deserves.

Thanks for the update, Hot D.

(04-22-2013, 02:28 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]

The bombing in Boston overshadowed this, unfortunately I don't think it's getting the kind of attention it deserves.

Thanks for the update, Hot D.

Hard to imagine what the residents of the town must be going through. I think it would be very surreal.

As of today:

The FTA continues investigating to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

The Red Cross is providing residents who lost their homes (or are unable to begin cleaning theirs up yet) one month's free rent to help them out of emergency shelters, and there are now lawsuits from 4 insurance companies filed against the owner of the West Texas Fertilizer plant.

President Obama is expected to attend Thursday's memorial for the emergency responders who lost their lives.

(04-24-2013, 11:09 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: [ -> ]As of today:

Thanks!

I kinda felt like the media had forgotten about all these poor souls. All news outlets seemed to be focused on Boston.

(04-24-2013, 02:01 PM)Duchess Wrote: [ -> ]
(04-24-2013, 11:09 AM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: [ -> ]As of today:

Thanks!

I kinda felt like the media had forgotten about all these poor souls. All news outlets seemed to be focused on Boston.

It did get overshadowed by the Boston bombing, the Arias trial, etc...

14 people died in the explosion and over 200 were injured. Absolutely devastating to this town.

Today, investigators announced the cause of the explosion.

Investigators have determined that ammonium nitrate was the cause of a massive explosion at a fertiliser plant in the US state of Texas last month.

Ammonium nitrate is a dry fertiliser mixed with other fertilisers such as phosphate and applied to crops to promote growth.

It can be combustible under certain conditions, and was used as an ingredient in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 that left 168 people dead.

"The investigators have been able to narrow down the origin to the fertilizer and seed building on site, and we also know that what caused the explosion was the ammonium nitrate," said Rachel Moreno, a spokeswoman for the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office.

"What we don't know is exactly why," she said.

The fire marshal's office has been leading the investigation, along with the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency.

(05-07-2013, 03:27 PM)HairOfTheDog Wrote: [ -> ]The fire marshal's office has been leading the investigation, along with the federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency.[/i][/b]

Hmmmm.

No OSHA.

Odd.

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