This is crazy…
Video: (H/T HotAir.com)
Local coverage via Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Morning News, KHOU, and KWTX
A picture of an Apartment complex near the plant:
Fox News gives the grim details:
DEVELOPING: An unknown number of people were killed and over 100 were injured in a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas on Wednesday night.
The explosion at West Fertilizer in West, a community about 20 miles north of Waco, happened shortly before 8 p.m. and could be heard as far away as Waxahachie, 45 miles to the north.
Although authorities said it will be some time before they know the full extent of the loss of life, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman D.L. Wilson said just after midnight that an unknown number of people had died.
West Mayor Tommy Muska told reporters that his city of about 2,800 residents needs “your prayers.”“We’ve got a lot of people who are hurt, and there’s a lot of people, I’m sure, who aren’t gonna be here tomorrow,” Muska said. “We’re gonna search for everybody. We’re gonna make sure everybody’s accounted for. That’s the most important thing right now.”
A member of the city council, Al Vanek, said there is a four-block area around the explosion “that is totally decimated.” Wilson said the damage was comparable to the destruction caused by the 1995 bomb blast that destroyed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
Tommy Muska, the mayor of West, which is a community north of Waco, said at a news conference he did not know yet how many people were injured or killed.
KWTX reports dozens have been killed citing a hospital official, but Fox News has not confirmed the report.
Brett Esrock, CEO of Providence Hospital in Waco, tells Fox News they have received 24 patients and are expecting around 20 more. He said the injuries are mostly cuts, abrasions and some head trauma.“We’ve implemented our disaster plan and deployed a team of doctors, nurses and other personnel,” Esrock said. “The blast was pretty significant. It did damage several miles away.”
An official from a hospital in nearby Waco tells the Associated Press at least 66 people were taken for treatment there, including 38 who were hurt seriously.
A plea for blood donations from a commenter at HotAir.com:
From Donna Karl at Carter BloodCare in Waco
BLOOD IS NEEDED TO TREAT THE VICTIMS OF THE EXPLOSION IN WEST!
DO NOT GIVE TO RED CROSS. THE BLOOD THEY DRAW DOES NOT STAY LOCAL.
Blood Drive at Providence Hospital will be open 11:00am-5:00pm and the Donor Center will be open at 9:00am (4002 W Waco Drive, corner of Waco Dr and New Rd by On The Border Restaurant) . We are at Corsicana HS also tomorrow and Friday. Please remind folks that we will need blood and especially platelets over the next several days as people are being treated so if they can’t donate tomorrow, we are open on Friday and Saturday. My phone number is 254-297-4002. I will be onsite at my office at 7:30am.
It is imperative that we get donations not only tomorrow, but over the next several days as blood products have an extremely short shelf life. Please donate! Call me if you have ANY questions. 254-297-4002.
lonestar1 on April 18, 2013 at 1:11 AM
If you are in the area; please, in the name of America and of God — give blood, they need it, badly.
I believe that everyone, no matter your religion or denomination — needs to say a prayer for the people of West, Texas.
God be with them…
Also too, I said this on twitter, and I do mean this:
I just wanna say, during times like these. We’re all Americans. My Prayers for all in West, Texas. . #WestExplosion #west
— Thinking Americanist (@TheTAmericanist) April 18, 2013
Amen.
Update: I have been up most of the night taking in what is happening in Texas. I am a bit of a night owl as of late. Anyhow, Here is scanner traffic from the scene in Texas: (VIA ABC 13)
Longer Clip: (via Radio Reference Forums) This has the silence trimmed out.
[podcast]
More to come as I find it.
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