Explosion in West, Texas

[NDJournalist]

An explosion at a fertilizer plant has rocked the town of West, north of Waco, causing multiple injuries and leaving people trapped and buildings on fire, according to multiple reports.
Several firefighters were injured among the explosion at the West Fertilizer plant shortly before 8 p.m., according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20130417-breaking-news-explosion-injuries-reported-at-fertilizer-plant-in-west-texas.ece

 

[Inky_Wretch]

And, no, the photo of the mushroom cloud explosion isn't legit.

 

[finishthehat]

I've got nothing to add but that West is a Czech town known for its kolaches, and the next town over is Abbott, Willie Nelson's hometown and site of the semi-recent weed arrest that had the DA asking him to sing in court as part of his plea bargain.

 

[Football_Bat]

The whole freaking town is on fire. They're using the football field as a triage area.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Explosion was caught on camera ...

http://www.kwkt.com/news/caught-camera-fertilizer-plant-explosion-near-waco

 

[TowelWaver]

Holy crap at that video. Supposedly this is the massive cloud that resulted (assuming the fake one Inky referred to the one with the park bench in the foreground, not this one)...

 

[Football_Bat]

An explosion that big will certainly create a mushroom cloud. That said, the one with the Sonic in the foreground looks shopped.

 

[NDJournalist]

I really, really, really hope nothing malicious caused this.

 

[Flip Wilson]

An explosion that big will certainly create a mushroom cloud. That said, the one with the Sonic in the foreground looks shopped.

Park bench photo is supposedly from Big Spring, Texas. Definitely not from tonight's explosion in West. The Sonic photo is legit. That Sonic is across the street from an iconic bakery/gas station (yep...I know) that's just off the highway and can be seen to the right in the photo.

 

[Football_Bat]

Everyone at the football field/triage area is getting the hell out of Dodge. They're worried about a second fertilizer tank at the plant.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Aren't severe thunderstorms forecast for Waco tonight?

 

[Football_Bat]

Aren't severe thunderstorms forecast for Waco tonight?

They're weaker on the south end, should hit at some point early morning.

 

[NDJournalist]

Jay F. Hicks ‏@jayfhicks 5m

Dr. George Smith, Director of West EMS: He believes there are 60 to 70 dead and hundreds injured.

 

[Football_Bat]

Six confirmed dead at last check, five of them firefighters. The plant was fully involved before the explosion, as those of you who saw the video know.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

BuzzFeedNews says 70 dead.

 

[dixiehack]

In a hotel room with news options of CNN and Fox. The end. My only hope is that with all the talking hairdos in Boston or DC, maybe all they'll have left are actual reporters.

 

[Football_Bat]

BuzzFeedNews says 70 dead.

That is based off the EMS director's guess, though. Not confirmed.

 

[Corky Ramirez up on 94th St.]

Friend of mine is an ER nurse at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. She texted me 30 minutes ago: "Fertilizer plant exploded. 100+ casualties. Bracing for the arrival of a gazillion patients." Yikes.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Explosion was caught on camera ...

http://www.kwkt.com/news/caught-camera-fertilizer-plant-explosion-near-waco

Jesus.

 

[Songbird]

Pressure-cooker bombs on Monday.

Fertilizer plants on Wednesday.

What are they going to hit Friday?