West, TX Fertilizer Plant Explosion kills over 15 and injures over 200
LARRY W. SMITH/EPA
By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
A devastating industrial accident explosion at the West Fertilizer Plant in the central Texas community of West, Texas, about 20 miles north of Waco on Interstate 35 North, jolted the entire region with a 2.5 Richter Scale earthquake force killing over 15 persons and injuring over 200 persons on Thursday, April 17, 2013, at approximately 7 p.m.
The West Fertilizer Plant explosion decimated the industrial plant as well as a nearby apartment complex and an adult nursing home. One local citizen described it as a “war zone” with mass casualties and horrific injuries to people. The original explosion occurred at approximately 7 p.m. prompting many local first responders to rush to the explosion site but were hit by larger secondary explosions later after arriving at the accident scene.
Witnesses describe the extreme force of the explosions wiped out about a five block area around the West Fertilizer Plant site. Emergency first responders and volunteers worked into the night and morning aiding the injured and searching for people buried underneath the rubble and debris.
West Mayor Tommy Muska, a volunteer West fire fighter, stated at a 5:30 a.m. press conference today that over 60 residential homes were heavily-damaged over a five block area, an apartment complex near the West Fertilizer Plant suffered heavy and catastrophic damage, and search and rescue teams were still looking for injured survivors in this peaceful 2,800 residents rural Central Texas community. It is still too early to assess and determine the total impact of this fiery West Fertilizer Plant explosion as search and rescue teams were awaiting daylight to determine the full impact of this horrific explosion.
This West Fertilizer Plant explosion will be one of the largest industrial accidents in the history of the State of Texas. Communities in central and north Texas as far as 75 miles from West, Texas reported feeling the shockwaves of the explosion. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has dispatched investigators and personnel from its Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio offices to assist with the investigation as to what caused this accident.
West Mayor Tommy Muska concluded his press conference requesting that everyone pray for the victims and injured persons of West, Texas.
The State of Texas under Governor Rick Perry has a history of fighting against federal regulations on industrial and environmental safety.
Not until today will search and rescue teams learn the true extent of the catastrophic conseuences of this massive West Fertilizer Plant explosion which has larger casualties and injured persons than the two bombs which exploded on Monday, April 15th, at the Boston Marathon.
