Monday marked the 10-year anniversary of the West Fertilizer Company explosion that left 15 people dead and hundreds more injured.
The explosion occurred after a fire started inside the plant on April 17, 2013. The fire spread to another room containing 30 tons of ammonium nitrate, which detonated at 7:51 p.m.
The blast registered as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake and destroyed two schools, multiple homes and cars. It left a crater nearly 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep and killed 10 firefighters, two first responders and three civilians. The disaster rocked the small north-central Texas town of West, which had a population of just 2,800 at the time.
In 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives called the fire “a criminal act” and said it was intentionally set. The agency announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the fire, but no arrests have ever been made.The U.S. Chemical Safety Board called the West Fertilizer Plant explosion one of the most destructive explosions it has ever investigated.The plant was built in 1961 in open fields.
There are no federal or state requirements regulating the siting of chemical facilities near residential areas, schools or hospitals.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
10 Years Later: City of West Honors 15 Killed in Fertilizer Plant Blast, Reflects on RebuildingA special ceremony was held in West, Texas, on Saturday marking the solemn anniversary of the deadly fertilizer plant explosion a decade ago.
Read more »
Ceremony held as we approach 10 years since West fertilizer plant explosionIt’s been nearly 10 years since 15 people were killed and 300 others were injured after a fertilizer plant in West, Texas exploded.
Read more »
Remembering the 2013 West fertilizer plant explosion, fireVIDEOS, PHOTOS: Take a look back at the Texas disaster that claimed the lives of 15 people in the town of West on this day in 2013. KPRC2 Texas West
Read more »
No Winner Saturday, Monday's Lotto Texas Jackpot Jumps to $69.75 MillionThere was no winner in Saturday’s Lotto Texas jackpot drawing, sending the largest advertised jackpot in the state in more than 12 years to an estimated $69.75 million for Monday night.
Read more »
Central Texas weather: Sunny and mild Monday with chance of rain the rest of the weekEnjoy the sunshine today as rain is moving back in the forecast on Tuesday and it could stick around all week.
Read more »
Migrant Surge Returns to West Texas Border Sector -- 10K Apprehensions Last WeekEl Paso Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 10,000 migrants who crossed the border between ports of entry during the past week.
Read more »