A major explosion took place in a burning fertilizer plant in West, Texas, just north of Waco on Wednesday night, killing between five and 15 people and injuring more than 160, reports NBC 5.
Several nearby buildings were destroyed or damaged, including a nearby nursing home of 133 residents. Multiple ambulances rushed to the scene. People have been reported to be trapped in the nursing home as well as an apartment building nearby. The explosion was registered as a 2.1-magnitude earthquake by the United States Geological Survey and could be felt as far as 45 miles away.
Check out some of the stunning pictures posted to Twitter since the incident.
Multiple injuries after massive explosion hits town near Waco. 10 blgs burning. People trapped. Latest at 10 @ktvu twitpic.com/ck3p7e
— KenWayne (@KenWayne) April 18, 2013
#Waco Fertilizer Plant explosion: DPS reports several injured and buildings on fire, could be heard 65 miles awaytwitpic.com/ck3hyr
— Karina(@Karina_Marlene) April 18, 2013
PIC – Powerful image of the West, TX explosion. The folks in West need our prayers! twitter.com/DFWscanner/sta…
— DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner) April 18, 2013
PIC – Another jaw-dropping image from the explosion in West. Multiple people seriously injured. twitter.com/DFWscanner/sta…
— DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner) April 18, 2013
Here is an aerial pic of the West, TX explosion. Pilot said it shook his plane! Also reported transformers exploding. twitter.com/RickMitchellWX…
— Rick Mitchell (@RickMitchellWX) April 18, 2013
A building in West sustained heavy damage in plant explosion. Latest: bit.ly/11f7e3y (Rod Aydelotte/Trib) twitpic.com/ck3qkq
— WacoTrib.com (@wacotrib) April 18, 2013
Aftermath of the explosion in #West, Texas twitter.com/TelegraphPics/…
— Telegraph Pictures (@TelegraphPics) April 18, 2013
