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© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.5-15 killed, 160 injured in Texas fertilizer plant blast
WACO, Texas©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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sailwind
From what I just read, 60 to 70 dead so far and the real bad news it is a pretty rural town and the nearest real hospital is about twenty miles away. Nothing so far indicates that it is terrorism but a horrific industrial accident starting with a fire at the factory. Just as my heartfelt prayers continue for the people of Boston they are now also being said for the people of the town of West and to the first responders there who are so critical right now in getting people stable enough to be able to make the long trips to the outside hospitals.
Noliving
What a crappy week this has been for the US.
smithinjapan
Wow, a crappy week indeed, though in this case it sounds more like an industrial accident while Boston was obviously a terrorist act. My heart goes out to all those who perished or were injured, and their loved ones, not to mention the town itself.
Elbuda Mexicano
What a horrible way to die! RIP poor Texans
Surf O'Holic
I've yet to hear anything about how the fire started to begin with.
Cos
Terrible.
A similar explosion happened in France in 2001. Causes have never been established clearly.
BurakuminDes
Rest in Peace. Absolutely awful and shocking news. Upwards of 70 dead- likely 100-200. Pray for America.
WilliB
Obviously just an industrial accident. Bud sadly, on the conspiracy sites the conspiracy fanatics are already active, blaming this or that nefarious group for it. Bizarre!
Lizz
Genesis of the fire unknown at this point, whether arson-related or some kind of accident. All that is obvious at this point is that heat, does some weird and amazing stuff to some chemicals.
RomeoRII
My local news station reported that 60-70 people were killed in the explosion. Very tragic.
RR
Saul Schimek
looks to be 5-15 dead, and 160 + injured according to latest reports
tmarie
Well said Zichi. Money talks though. Be it here or the US. Screw the public and their safety.
badsey3
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/apr/18/texas-plant-explosion-west-waco-video
-shows the explosion. A compilation of YouTube files.
yabits
It might have been vice versa, with the town growing up around the plant. But you make an excellent point. Risk assessment should have determined a worst-case blast scenario and a perimeter established within which no building permits for public buildings or private residences would have been allowed.
In my career, I once had a job that required me to visit and work in refineries and petro-chemical plants of all sizes. (Spent a fair amount of time in Texas and Louisiana.) I recall one small Texas town in particular that hosted a plant that, among other things, produced the component that gives natural gas its unique smell. (The entire town smelled like a gas leak.) I worked out of a building that was once an elementary school that was "given" to the plant when an assessment determined that it could have been destroyed in an accident.
When I spoke to a couple of the residents about the smell and any possible danger, one said "It smells like money to me!" I just wonder if any residents of the former town of West would have said the same thing about fertilizer.
mrcliff
I stay 20 miles away from West in Waco and we're all just glued to the news trying to find all the information we can. It's crazy to see all this unfold.
mrcliff
right now the governor just held a press conference. Right now they're still just in search and rescue mode and the the how's and why's will be later. They're doing to best to make sure they find as many people as possible.
Steven C. Schulz
God bless the victims and their families.
zichi, get a life.
yabits
The ones who knew what could happen lived nowhere near that plant, and you can bet the farm on that.. A school and nursing home were located within the blast zone and sustained serious damage.
Unknown dead and over 150 injured were trying to do just that.
Steven C. Schulz
The town grew around the plant because it was a source of jobs. If anyone is at fault for the number of injuries, the the town for zoning the surrounding area residential.
Does Google Earth allow you inside the facility and give you a listing of their safety protocols? If not, then you anyone scapegoating the plant, mostly like because of the idea that 'all business is evil,' and are being premature until a cause and safety analysis has been determined.
Since I just noticed my original post is gone, I reiterate: God bless the victims and their families.
mrcliff
They still haven't reported a cause yet. there's around 30+ unaccounted for.
yabits
Well, the explosion occurred about a half-hour after a fire broke out in the plant. That is why volunteer first-responders are among the missing and dead. I suspect they'll find the reason for the original fire.
I second your call for a nationwide review of all industrial plants. I am not optimistic that it will happen.
Steven C. Schulz
@zichi
Please forgive me that I can't take your interpretation, however experienced, at face-value. I will await whatever results the official inquiry produce.
However, if their safety standards are found to be sub-standard, I will place the blame squarely on the management.
I still think the surrounding area should have been properly zoned so that the school and nursing home weren't nearby.
mrcliff
well they just had a press conference again but nothing new has been said except that there have been fatalities.
yabits
Really good information. It appears to point to very weak regulations and very weak enforcement of them. Required by law but not in place? Perhaps this is characteristic of Texas?