I live 10 miles from West. Was out in pasture and heard 2 loud booms and a few minutes later wife got a text asking if we were ok and we were told the explosion was in West. We headed for our church in West to see if we could help. Church is about 1/2 mile from explosion and had minor damage from fallen ceiling tiles, etc. Soon after arriving, we were advised to leave as there was the possibility of further explosion and folks were going to the community center on the other end of town. The town was a zoo with tons of traffic, emergency vehicles from miles and miles around. The community center was being used as a triage center. Took some water by there and it was full of mostly elderly folks being treated. Looked to me like lots of cuts possibly from flying glass. Were told that they had plenty of help as emergency personel from several counties were on the scene. 6 careflight choppers are busy transporting seriously injureds to hospitals. Less than a 1/8 of a mile from explosion is a nursing home and an apartment complex with lots of casualties. Both were severely damaged. Most of the top floor of the 50 unit apartment complex was destroyed. 50-70 homes severely damaged and some totally destroyed. Looks like a war zone. Talked to a friend who has spoken to a person that works for West Fertilizer and thinks the initial explosion was a propane tank but there are at least 2 anhydrous tanks nearby and there is some anhydrous leakage. Friends mom was in nursing home and only minor injuries. Probably half the town has been evacuated.
No confirmed deaths yet but 4-5 volunteer firefighters that were at the scene when the explosion occurred are unaccounted for and feared lost. Probably will be be several more found tomorrow when the rubble is searched.
This community really needs our prayers.
FWIW this is not an anhydrous mfg plant, just a retail fertilizer business that handles dry, liquid and anhydrous. The videos I saw show an explosion that looks like other videos I've seen of propane tank explosions.
