Texas disaster: 70 dead and hundreds wounded in explosion

At least 70 people were killed and hundreds were injured in the explosion that took place tonight in Waco fertilizer factory west of Texas. Cause of the explosion is still unknown.

According to reports, at around 20:00 (IST Texas), a loud explosion was heard in the area and giant fire erupted. Flames from the factory destroyed nearby buildings, including a nursing home and a school.

An eyewitness said that he saw the flames consume a nursing home and apartment complex, located near the site of the explosion. "It sounded like a bomb. It's shocking, apartments destroyed in a nursing home, the fire was so close to a residential area."

"The explosion destroyed so much, I've never seen anything like this," said the local sheriff, Jerry Mashk. "It looks like a war zone., We are moving from house to house, looking for victims, an unbelievable tragedy"

Cause of the explosion is not yet clear, but so far has not delivered on suspicion that it was a terrorist attack and connection to the Boston Marathon, and is probably a work accident.

"It was like an atomic bomb", described Mayor Tommy Mosca, who said that there was a fire at the factory which apparently caused a huge explosion. "There was a huge mushroom cloud of smoke. The factory burned before the explosion, it was almost eaten by the fire when I arrived."

"We need your prayers, there are a lot of wounded and casualties," added the mayor. "There are many people that probably will not be with us tomorrow."



Dr. George Smith, head of medicine in Waco expressed grave concern that the death toll will rise dramatically to 60 or 70. "I got the impression from the description I heard from the firefighters, but at this point we do not know for sure. At present we know of two deaths clearly.

According to witnesses the explosion sounded over a distance of 70 km. One of them told the AP news agency that she noticed thick smoke rising from the area. According to her, she began to travel towards the smoke to see what happened, but then boys told her that they must leave since the place was going to explode. "It was like being in a tornado," she said, "it felt like the ground was shaking."

Residents in the factory area described in the local media the extent of the destruction.

Debbie Marak, Waco resident told the extent of the destruction and said "It's like being in a tornado, all the windows of my house exploded, just like an earthquake." Keith Williams, a resident of Waco told "all at the ceiling collapsed" after his house was completely destroyed as a result of the huge explosion. "The windows were broken and the brick came out of the walls. Rear garage of the home completely exploded as a result of the blast. Both houses of my neighbors on both sides of the street are destroyed."

Following the explosion the nearby football field established a special emergency area for sorting the wounded, and ambulances and private vehicles led the victims to hospitals.

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