MASSIVE Explosion At Texas Fertilizer Plant – Early Reports 70 to 80 People Killed – Dozens Missing, Including Entire Fire Squads… (Video of Explosion)
WACO (CBSDFW.COM) - A fertilizer plant explosion in the town of West, north of Waco, has killed as many as 70 people and injured hundreds. However, no official numbers have been released.
Watch the video – the explosion is at the :30 second point
Firefighters had been called to the plant to battle a small fire around 7 p.m. Crews were working to bring the blaze under control when the explosion happened around 7:50 p.m.
Emergency crews from central and north Texas have been called in to help respond to the injuries and destruction from the explosion. Into the early morning hours Thursday the plant was still smoldering and active ingredients were still inside. The situation is still too volatile to have firefighters try and battle any flames.
Trooper D.L. Wilson of the Texas Department of Public Safety estimates that as many as 75 homes were severely damaged and an apartment complex with 50 units was gutted by the blast. West EMS Director Dr. George Smith said, ““We’ve got a lot of houses on one street especially there that look like a war zone. They’ve been collapsed, so there may be people inside those houses, either critically injured or deceased.
Tommy Muska, West’s mayor, said at a news conference three hours after the explosion that buildings in a five-block radius from the plant were severely damaged by the explosion. Among them was the West Rest Haven Nursing Home, a location where first-responders evacuated 133 patients, some in wheelchairs. “We did get there and got that taken care of,” Muska said.
Trooper Wilson said said 133 patients from the nearby nursing home were evacuated. He could not comment on the extent of any patient injuries, but says all patients have been evacuated from the building.
Dr. Smith said he saw the initial fire and became concerned. “When I saw the fire I went to the nursing home, because I knew there were hazardous chemicals [in the plant], and I helped the nursing home personnel move them [residents] away from the area close to the explosion.” Then the doctor said there was chaos. “It exploded while I was in the nursing home. I had debris and glass windows all over me… had to get out of there myself,” he said. “Luckily we had got most of the residents on the other side. Hopefully I think that saved some lives.” (read more)
Source is here from TLR
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Although the cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, Senator Barbara Boxer plans to investigate the explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant hoping to find any gaps in the enforcement of U.S. chemical safety laws. The Senator also questioned why the EPA failed to include ammonium nitrate on the list of chemicals that facilities must report to agency under its Risk Management Program. At least we are getting somewhere.
Although the cause of the explosion is yet to be determined, Senator Barbara Boxer plans to investigate the explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant hoping to find any gaps in the enforcement of U.S. chemical safety laws. The Senator also questioned why the EPA failed to include ammonium nitrate on the list of chemicals that facilities must report to agency under its Risk Management Program. At least we are getting somewhere.
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