Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West, Texas! Multiple Death & Hundreds Of Injuries Confirmed (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

UPDATE: 1:00AM EST

D.L. Wilson, public safety spokesperson addressed the media in a short press conference where he stated the fire is mostly out, but he cannot confirm the death toll. He also stated all injured have been taken care of and they will continue a house to house search for others throughout the night.

He also compared the size of this tragedy to what we've seen in Iraq as well as the Oklahoma City bombing.

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UPDATE: 12:45AM EST

Mayor Tommy Muska of West, TX told CNN that 60-80 private homes have been destroyed. He also states the fire is currently under control, although it is not out yet.

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A fertilizer plant exploded earlier this evening in West, Texas, resulting in a number of fatalities.

Local Texas news station, KWTX reports:

West EMS Director Dr. George Smith says as many as 60 or 70 people died and hundreds were injured Wednesday night in a fertilizer plant explosion in West.

A rescuer earlier said he knew of five deaths.

Meanwhile, emergency crews were pulling back late Wednesday night because of concerns about the possibility of a second explosion.

Emergency crews from throughout Central Texas responded just before 8 p.m. Wednesday after the first explosion at the plant in the small town north of Waco.

The explosion was reported at around 7:50 p.m. in a frantic radio call from the scene of the fire at West Fertilizer at 1471 Jerry Mashek Dr. just off Interstate 35.

The fire started in an anhydrous ammonia tank and spread to the building, authorities said.

The resulting explosion spread the fire to the Middle School and to a nearby nursing home.

The blast was felt throughout the city and as far away as Hillsboro, Whitney and Blum.

Most of the injuries resulted from debris being thrown from the blast, glass, doors and other shrapnel, authorities said.

Everyone within one mile of the fire was ordered to evacuate.

Numerous injuries were reported and multiple ambulances were requested.

About 60 people had been taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center by shortly before 10 p.m.

By 10:45 p.m. 61 injured victims had been admitted to Hillcrest, 44 of whom were in serious condition.

Two young victims were transferred to Scott & White Children’s Hospital in Temple, a hospital official said.

SOURCE: KWTX

And, to give you an idea of how intense the explosion was, here is how it registered on a seismograph in Amarillo, TX:

This story is developing...

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