Explosion at the West Fertilizer plant in Texas, US.
Still from YouTube video by zidyboby
A number of people have been killed and many more injured in an explosion at the West Fertilizer plant at West, Texas in the US.
Many homes and buildings were destroyed in the blast, with several still ablaze after the fertilizer plant exploded at around 7:50pm (00:50 GMT).
The number of casualties is still unknown with civilians and firefighters still unaccounted for. The local emergency services are still performing house-to-house searches for survivors.
The explosion occurred following a fire at the plant, likely the result of the heat causing a reaction in the 20 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia at the plant, an ingredient for fertilizer but also historically used in bomb-making in the past due to the exothermic reaction it produces.
Texas Governor Rick Perry said in a statement:
“We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident.
“We have also mobilised state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene.”
One witness caught the moment of explosion on video:
Another witness caught the explosion from a different angle:
