MASSIVE EXPLOSION AT WEST, TEXAS FERTILIZER PLANT — MULTIPLE DEATHS, MORE THAN 160 INJURED
08:17A massive explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. rocked the small town of West, Texas, late Wednesday night, leaving more than 100 people reported injured and many feared dead.
"It was like a nuclear bomb went off," West Mayor Tommy Muska told CNN.
Sgt. Patrick Swanton of the Waco Police Department said the first call of a fire came in at 7:29 p.m. local time. Firefighters and other emergency workers responded to the call and began evacuating the area.
Minutes later, the devastating explosion occurred. The first call of the explosion came in at 7:53 p.m. local time, Swanton said.
More than 100 victims have been treated at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, Texas, which is just north of West. And at least 60 more have been treated at Providence Hospital.
"I will confirm there have been fatalities," said Swanton, who estimated five to 15 people were thought to be dead. Swanton didn't have any specific updates at a later Thursday morning press conference.
Swanton also said that between three and five firefighters were missing.
There were a "tremendous amount of injuries and we do have confirmed fatalities," said D.L. Wilson, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Safety at a conference late Wednesday night, He was not able to provide specific numbers.
The blast was so massive that it registered as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake, according to the USGS. The West Fertilizer Co. had 54,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, a highly volatile chemical, on hand.
Wilson said the aftermath resembled a war zone.
"I searched some houses earlier tonight. Massive. Just like Iraq. Just like the Murrah building in Oklahoma City," Wilson said.
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