Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Kills at Least 5, Injures 160

Massive Blast Could Be Heard Over 40 Miles Away

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

DEVELOPING:  A Texas fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas has exploded and has killed between five and 15 people and injured at least 160 authorities say.

Emergency crews responded to two large explosions Wednesday night, which were reported around 7:50p.m. Reports say that the blast could be heard as far away as 70 kilometers (43 Miles) north and some even describing it as an earthquake.

Prior to the explosion, the town’s volunteer firefighters had responded to a fire call at the fertilizer plant around 6:00p.m - the blast followed about 50 minutes later. There are several firefighters who are unaccounted for.

Officials say that the fire was under control as of 11p.m. last night, but residence were told to remain indoors due to ammonia being released into the air and the potential threat of new explosions or leaks.