A massive explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. rocked the small town of West, Texas, late Wednesday night, leaving more than 100 people reported injured and many feared dead.
“It was like a nuclear bomb went off,” said West Mayor Tommy Muska to CNN.
According to Sgt. Patrick Swanton of the Waco Police Department, the first call of a fire came in at 7:29 PM local time. Firefighters and other emergency workers responded to the call and began evacuating the area.
Minutes later, the devastating explosion occured. The first call of the explosion came in at 7:53 PM local time said Swanton.
More than 100 victims have been treated at Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, Texas. And at least 60 more have been treated at Providence Hospital.
Toxic, flammable and dangerous: What is an anhydrous ammonia explosion?
“The West Fertilizer facility suffered an anhydrous ammonia explosion, according to Waco Assistant Fire Chief Don Yeager.
That term applies to ammonia in its liquid or gas state. Anhydrous ammonia is classified as toxic and dangerous for the environment – and is extremely flammable and is capable of forming highly explosive mixtures.
If Ammonia is exposed to iodine, Nitrogen triiodide is formed – which is described as a high explosive – capable of exploding out to six miles out.
According to Yeager, the explosion affected other parts of the fetilizer plant too – which could have accelerated the mixing of toxic materials. Anhydrous ammonia is transported as a liquid at temperatures below -28°F.
In the event of a large spill it can form a toxic vapor cloud that is heavier than air until its temperature increases.
Anhydrous ammonia is corrosive to copper, silver, aluminum, zinc, and alloys. It reacts with body moisture, so it may burn body tissue – skin, eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and stomach – on contact, if inhaled or swallowed.”
(Mail online UK)
“I will confirm there have been fatalities,” said Swanton who estimated 5 to 15 were thought to be dead.
Swanton also said that between 3 and 5 firefighters were missing.
There were a “tremendous amount of injuries and we do have confirmed fatalities,” said D.L. Wilson, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Safety at a conference late Wednesday night, He was not able to provide specific numbers.
The blast was so massive that it registered as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake, according to the USGS.
Watch The Massive explosion here
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/texas-explosion/index.html
Sources. ABC News,The Mail Online UK