Massive explosion at fertilizer plant injures hundreds in West, Texas

Reports have 200 people injured in this blast and 75-100 homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.

Two confirmed dead, but the number may go way, way up.

What the hell was a fertilizer plant doing in the middle of town?

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/17/4783300/e … dings.html
By BearinFW | 04/18/2013 12:45 AM | 4 comments
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  • I suppose it's not all that surprising such a plant was allowed in town. This is Texas, which is probably about as pro-business, anti-consumer a state as there is in the country.

    The state also allows grain elevators in the middle of towns, as well as natural gas drilling rigs. And this was considered a *small* fertilizer plant.

    These things are all disasters waiting to happen. So it shouldn't be that shocking when one of them occasionally does.
    BearinFW 04/18/2013 06:50 PM
  • I was more than a little surprised that this plant was in a residential area. During a phone interview, a resident who described himself as being active in the community described the plant as being 'on the edge of town.' When asked if he had ever been inside the plant he said he didn't really know anything about it and had never been inside!!! Even before the explosion, I would think a fertilizer plant emits the kinds of chemical fumes hazardous to the health of it's residents.
    pipeboy4kink 04/18/2013 03:28 PM
  • Local NBC affiliate has home video of the fire and blast. Really intense explosion that knocked the people filming it to the ground. There was a big fire for a bit before the explosion. Hope people got out of that apartment complex before the blast. There is not much left of the complex.
    BearinFW 04/18/2013 01:43 AM
  • Fatalities confirmed by sheriff but not number; 50-unit apartment complex leveled; 133-resident nursing home evacuated.

    Sheriff described the scene as similar to the Murrah Building in OKC. Enormous damage.
    BearinFW 04/18/2013 01:11 AM