West Fertilizer Company explosion

Coordinates: 31°48′58″N 97°05′17″W / 31.816°N 97.088°W / 31.816; -97.088
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West Fertilizer Company explosion
DateApril 17, 2013 (2013-04-17)
Time7:50 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00)
LocationWest Fertilizer Co.,
1471 Jerry Mashek Drive,
West, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates31°48′58″N 97°05′17″W / 31.816°N 97.088°W / 31.816; -97.088
DeathsAround 35[1][2]
Non-fatal injuriesMore than 160[1][2]
Property damage60–80 homes destroyed, 50–75 homes damaged, 50-unit apartment building destroyed[3]
West Middle School damaged
Map of West, Texas

On April 17, 2013, an explosion occurred about 7:50 p.m. CDT (0050 UTC, April 18) at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, 18 miles (29 km) north of Waco, Texas.[4][5][6][7][8][9] The number of dead is not known, but it is estimated that 35 people, including 10 emergency services personnel, died in the explosion.[1][2]

The facility first caught fire, then exploded as firefighters were attempting to douse the flames.[10]

It is not known what caused the blast. [11] The facility is owned by Adair Grain, Inc.,[12] which received an air quality permit as a fertilizer mixing and storage facilty from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in December 2006. The permit was issued after Adair was investigated for failure to secure a permit, when a neighbor complained about an ammonia smell coming from the facility. The facility reportedly stored 54,000 pounds (27 short tons; 24 t) of anhydrous ammonia, which, along with nitric acid, is used to produce ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer, pesticide, and rodenticide, which is also highly explosive under certain conditions.[13]

Aftermath

USGS ground level intensity map for the event.

West Mayor, Tommy Muska, told the Waco Tribune-Herald that as of late evening, April 17, six or seven volunteer firefighters from the city were unaccounted for.[14] West EMS Director Dr. George Smith, himself injured, stated that he believes at least two emergency responders were killed.[15]

The damaged buildings included the public West Middle School, which sits next to the facility.[16] A neighboring 50-unit two-story apartment building was destroyed.[3] Patients were evacuated from the nearby West Rest Haven nursing home.[17]

Over 100 people were reported to be injured in the blast and were originally transported to a triage center set up at West High School's football field. It was later moved to a community center due to its proximity to the still-burning facility . Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco received over 40 injured for treatment.[18] Patients were also admitted to Providence Healthcare Network in Waco, Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, and Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple.[19]

"We do have confirmed fatalities," Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman D.L. Wilson said at a midnight news conference. "We have a tremendous amount of injuries... over 100 injuries at this time." Wilson did not confirm or deny an earlier report that the number of deaths could be in the range of 60 to 70. He said the blast zone was "just like the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City" in reference to the Oklahoma City bombing, and that there were "50 to 75" homes and businesses damaged.[20] Sergeant William Patrick Swanton of the Waco Police Department said the operation has gone into a "search-and-rescue mode", aiming to find survivors and recover those who might be trapped in buildings. He said at least 160 people have been injured, and the firefighters who were fighting the initial fire have yet to be accounted for. Swanton said that local environmental officials and emergency personnel have said there is not a risk to the community from the smoke fumes rising from the facility.[21]

Reaction

Seismograph reading from Hockley, Texas, 142 miles (228 km) south-east of West, clearly displaying the tremor caused by the explosion.

Those living in and around West report that the blast felt like an earthquake.[22] The United States Geological Survey recorded the explosion as a 2.1-magnitude tremor.[23][24] The blast was heard as far away as Ennis, 40 miles (64 km) NNE of West, Hillsboro, Waxahachie, DeSoto, and even as far north as Arlington. Windows were blown out in Abbott, 7 miles (11 km) NNE of West.[25]

Texas Governor Rick Perry issued this statement on the evening of April 17:

"We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident. We have also mobilized state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene."[26]

President Barack Obama issued a statement on April 18:

"Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas in the aftermath of last night's deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant. A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives. I want to thank the first responders who worked tirelessly through the night to contain the situation and treat the wounded. My Administration, through FEMA and other agencies, is in close contact with our state and local partners on the ground to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue. West is a town that many Texans hold near and dear to their hearts, and as residents continue to respond to this tragedy, they will have the support of the American people."[27][28]

West Independent School District announced on its Twitter feed that all five of the district's schools would be closed until further notice.[29] Nearby school districts Abbott ISD and Penelope ISD also closed their schools for a day.

Waco Police indicated that the explosion site would be treated as a crime scene out of caution. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced on the morning of April 18 that it would be sending a national response team including fire investigators, explosive experts, chemists, and canine units to investigate the site.[30] The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, an independent federal agency that investigates accidents involving industrial chemicals, also dispatched a major investigation team to West to begin searching for the cause of the disaster.[31]

Urban Search and Rescue Texas Task Force 1 was deployed on the morning of April 18 to assist in search and rescue.[32] In addition, an Incident Management Team from the Texas A&M Forest Service was also deployed,[33] as was the Veterinary Emergency Team from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.[34]

Governor Perry declared McLennan County a disaster area and said on April 18, an emergency declaration was “forthcoming” from President Obama, which will give the state federal aid. [35] On April 18, the Texas National Guard sent members of the 6th Civil Support Team to the area to test the air quality and assess chemical and biological hazards.[36]

On April 18, Willie Nelson announced he will turn a concert, to be held April 28 in Austin, into a benefit for the victims of the explosion.[37]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2013 West, Texas, explosion.

References

  1. ^ a b c Jervis, Rick and Stanglin, Doug (April 18, 2013). "Mayor says at least 10 first responders among those killed in explosion that officials say was likely an industrial accident". USA Today.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Report: As many as 35 killed in Texas plant explosion". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Regina Dennis (April 18, 2013). "Rescuers searching for victims of Texas fertilizer plant blast". chicagotribune.com. Reuters. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  4. ^ ADAIR GRAIN INC., DBA WEST FERTILIZER CO., EPA Facility Registry System
  5. ^ "Explosion hits fertilizer plant north of Waco, Texas". CNN. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  6. ^ Dozens Killed, Hundreds Injured In Fertilizer Plant Explosion « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth. Dfw.cbslocal.com (2013-04-13). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  7. ^ Dozens believed killed, hundreds injured in Texas fertilizer plant explosion— RT USA. Rt.com (April 18, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  8. ^ Earley, Justin (April 18, 2013) 60 to 70 reported killed in Waco-area fertilizer plant explosion – KYTX. Cbs19.tv. Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  9. ^ Several dead in Texas fertilizer plant explosion. Reuters via Hindustantimes.com (April 18, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  10. ^ Crawford, Selwyn (April 17, 2013). "Live video: Fertilizer plant explosion injures dozens in West, near Waco". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  11. ^ "UPDATE: EMS Director Says 60 To 70 Dead In West Explosion". KWTX.com. KWTX. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  12. ^ EPA Envirofacts Warehouse. Iaspub.epa.gov. Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  13. ^ "WEST FERTILIZER". Central Registry Query: Regulated Entity Information. Texas Commision on Environmental Quality. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  14. ^ West Mayor Tommy Muska: Six or seven firefighters were in the facility at the time of the explosion and not accounted for. – Waco Tribune-Herald Twitter, April 17, 2013
  15. ^ "Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Rescuers Searching for Survivors, Missing People – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  16. ^ Johnson, M. Alex. "Multiple injuries reported in explosion at Texas fertilizer plant". NBC US News. NBC. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  17. ^ "UPDATE: Evacuations ordered in West after fertilizer plant blast". WacoTrib.com. Waco Tribune-Herald. April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  18. ^ "2013 Texas Fertilizer Factory Blasts". Retrieved April 18, 2013. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  19. ^ James, Michael S.; Lee, Rebecca; Ng, Christina (April 18, 2013). "Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Sends 180 to Hospitals, Levels Homes, 5 to 15 Feared Dead". ABCNews.com. ABC News Network. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  20. ^ Unger, Todd et al. (April 17, 2013) Dallas Fire-Rescue firefighter among those killed in West . Wfaa.com. Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  21. ^ "West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion: 'Significant Devastation' After Blast | Video – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  22. ^ "Powerful explosion rocks small town north of Waco". WFAA. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  23. ^ "Central Texas fertilizer blast triggers 2.1 magnitude quake". WFAA-TV. April 18, 2013.
  24. ^ "Magnitude 2.1 – CENTRAL TEXAS". U.S. Geological Survey. April 18, 2013.
  25. ^ Elizondo, John (April 17, 2013). "At least 160 injured after West fertilizer plant explosion". KXXV.com. World Now. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  26. ^ Unger, Todd (April 17, 2013). "West, Texas mayor: 'I ask for your prayers'". Wfaa.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  27. ^ Obama sends prayers to West, Texas. Usatoday.com (April 18, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  28. ^ Statement from the President on the Explosion in West, Texas | The White House. Whitehouse.gov (April 18, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-04-19.
  29. ^ West Independent School District (April 17, 2013). "All West ISD campuses closed..." Twitter. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  30. ^ "ATF sends team to plant explosion site". April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  31. ^ Chemical Safety Board Deploying to West Fertilizer Plant Accident, Chemical Safety Board, April 18, 2013.
  32. ^ "Texas Task Force 1 deploys to West on search and rescue mission – The Eagle: Local News". The Eagle. April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  33. ^ "Texas A&M Forest Service". Txforestservice.tamu.edu. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  34. ^ "Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team Dispatched to West Explosion". KBTX. April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  35. ^ "West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion: Emergency Declaration 'Forthcoming,' Gov. Rick Perry Says". Int'l Business Times. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  36. ^ "Guard Sent to Test Air After Fertilizer Explosion". Military.com. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  37. ^ "Willie Nelson to hold benefit for Texas blast victims". CBS News. Retrieved April 19, 2013.

External links

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