Updated: Explosion At Fertilizer Plant - Waco Burning - Granite Grok

Updated: Explosion At Fertilizer Plant – Waco Burning

Waco Burning
Fertilizer plant near Waco, TX burns and explodes
West Fertilizer plant explosion
Fertilizer plant blows up
UPDATED: Two large explosions at a fertilizer plant in Texas caused 5-15 deaths and more than 100 injuries and sent flames shooting high into the night sky on Wednesday evening.

Story from KWTX (The West Fertilizer plant is located at the small town of West, 20 miles North of Waco, TX):

WEST (April 18, 2013)–Rescuers continued working Thursday morning in West in spite of a cold rain after a long night of door-to-door searches for victims of a Wednesday night explosion that killed between 5 and 15 people and injured more than 100 more.

Six firefighters and two paramedics are confirmed dead and seven nursing home residents were missing after the blast according to West EMS Director Dr. George Smith, who said earlier Wednesday night as many as 60 or 70 people may have died in the blast at West Fertilizer.

One police officer who was reported missing was located Thursday morning at Waco hospital where he was being treated for several injuries.

Smith said early Thursday morning he expects more bodies will be found during the search of damaged and destroyed homes.

He said a city official was also missing.

There were reports from West Thursday morning that some locations were being looted but a police officer speaking from the scene said he could not confirm any arrests.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton confirmed there were deaths, but said during a news conference early Thursday he did not know how many, reiterating a statement by Department of Public Safety spokesman D.L. Wilson, who said during a news conference late Wednesday night the number of dead is unknown.

“We do have confirmed fatalities,” Wilson said.

“It’s going to be a number.”

He said the blast caused “a tremendous amount of injuries,” and estimated the number hurt at more than 100.

Apartment building in West shredded by the blast - Poto: Amber Kubarak
Apartment building in West shredded by the blast – Photo: Amber Kubarak
The blast ripped a 50-unit apartment building apart, leaving little more than a skeleton, Wilson said.

Reports earlier Wednesday night indicated that some residents of the building were trapped including two children, but additional information wasn’t immediately available.

A nearby nursing home was also damaged and the 133 residents were evacuated, he said.

Some were injured, but he didn’t have a count.

Latest Updates from KWTX TV.

Map courtesy BBC:
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