Officials are still sorting through the wreckage following a catastrophic blast and fire at a West, Texas fertilizer plant. So far, according to the Associated Press, 14 people have been confirmed killed and more than 200 injured in the small Texas town. And while we don’t know for certain what caused the blast, signs indicate that it may have been wholly preventable.
The town of West was built around the fertilizer plant, according to accounts. There was a school and nursing home in close proximity, as well as numerous residences. With the plant at ground zero, so to speak, countless structures surrounding it were flattened.
“It was like a nuclear bomb went off,” said the mayor of the small town.
A nearby apartment complex was “stripped” of its walls and windows, leaving nothing but the frame standing. An estimated 50 to 60 homes in a five-block area sustained significant damage, along with businesses and other structures. People as far as 50 miles away felt their homes shake.
Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as others, are investigating the accident to determine what happened. They have located the center or the seat of the explosion, which, they say, will aid in determining the cause.
Some reports indicate that the problem was improper chemical handling, suggesting that the company that owns the plant may be responsible for the tragedy that occurred.
The building was holding 270 tons of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Such an amount of this volatile substance should have been reported to the Department of Homeland Security, reports indicate, but it was not. Allegedly, the Texas Department of State Health Services also knew about the large quantity of the fertilizer but failed to alert DHS.
For those who were hurt or who lost loved ones in the blast and subsequent blaze, pointing fingers is little help, though holding someone responsible could offer closure.
Industrial accidents are not rare. Large industrial accidents like this one happen less frequently, but they occur nonetheless. And when they do, they put entire towns at risk of serious damage, injury, and death.
Houston Catastrophic Injury Attorney
If you are involved in an accident like the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion, you need someone on your side working to hold someone responsible for your injuries. Contact the office of Kevin Krist today to discuss how he may be able to help during this difficult time. Call 281-760-3053 for a free consultation.
