whats happened in waco?

[Daveroo]

whats going on in waco tx?..i cant figure it out?...accident or?....i know its massive and nasty..

[SSI01]

FoxNews is reporting an explosion in a fertilizer factory in that location, I think . . .

[CG_1976]

FoxNews is reporting an explosion in a fertilizer factory in that location, I think . . .

Confirmed. Series of explosions at a huge Fertilizer Plant 4 block leveled and evacs proceeding. That's about all I have atm.

Update link: http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Explosion-Injuries-Reported-At-West-Fertilizer-Plant-203505331.html

Unknown if explosions are stopped or on going Whole town Of West is being evacuated.

[limjack]

My heart goes out to all involved. Looks like a nightmare right now. CNN picking up bits of the story now. News choppers told to stay clear of area. So sad.

Jim

[beana51]

70 people confirmed dead, including 5 firefighters & 1 police officer. Hundreds injured in explosion...As reported on Twitter!......TEXAS: DPS Spokesperson Gail Scarborough says that 75-100 houses & business completely destroyed. At least 200 people inj, 40 critical (ABC)...Real Story later...This is preliminary reports!More here

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-fertilizer-plant-blast-injures-many-033458344.html

[Rami]

Beana51,

Thanks for keeping us informed. My prayers to the families and those working at this factory. God save them.

[beana51]

Beana51,

Thanks for keeping us informed. My prayers to the families and those working at this factory. God save them.


Those were Early reports...with day light,more accurate info will be coming..it will take days to get the real answers..Today the Weather is hampering the aftermath ....In any case...It Was Terrible....We will know what happed soon.....Thanx Vin!!

[Willy]

They're saying now 15 confirmed dead and more than 160 injured.

[brad kaste]

Maybe someone here at the SOH can give an explanation to why this fertilizer plant was built to such close residential proximity? Because of it's potential explosiveness of the material,.....I would think it would have been built miles and miles away from homes and buildings. Same thing of course with grain silos.

[stiz]

Maybe someone here at the SOH can give an explanation to why this fertilizer plant was built to such close residential proximity? Because of it's potential explosiveness of the material,.....I would think it would have been built miles and miles away from homes and buildings. Same thing of course with grain silos.

I heard on another forum there was a plant there a good 40yrs ago that was a fair way a ways from town, so it might be a case of the town expanding closer to the plant.

Theres also a video of it, looks to have been a big fire to start with .. then it just went .. well ... boom :frown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQbkt7R834w

[wombat666]

We've had fairly good coverage of this incident so far I'd say it was a case of the town 'expanding'.
What really makes one think is the magnitude of the blast, 2.1 on the Richter Scale!!
Casualties are rising with a disturbing regularity.
Not good.
:australia: :unitedstates:

[CWOJackson]

Unfortunately, urban sprawl all too often encroaches into areas that it shouldn't. I've seen many examples where zoning authorities, that are intended to prevent such situations, have been woefully inadequate.

Check out this interactive image from Google Earth: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324493704578429943017835664.html#p roject%3DTXBLAST0413%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive

[Willy]

We've got grain elevators in town, but the grain company has been there in that location since the late 1800s. City Hall is now just across the street from them.

[SSI01]

That must have been an almighty bang - I saw a photo snapped by someone on the ground in West shortly after the blast, huge grey mushroom cloud rising couple of thousand feet into the air, looks like a tactical nuke went off.

[Daveroo]

google the word "Blevie" sometime and watch the youtubes....what happened in West wasnt technically a blevie..but same sort of explosion....nasty things these....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Xf3WKTwHpIU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0jtD_OWLU

watching these videos again..i cant believe i went willingly to training to become certified in propane fire management and control......and i accualy got to put that cert to use three times....:icon_eek:

[huub vink]

Maybe someone here at the SOH can give an explanation to why this fertilizer plant was built to such close residential proximity? Because of it's potential explosiveness of the material,.....I would think it would have been built miles and miles away from homes and buildings. Same thing of course with grain silos.

These type of explosion happen quite regular I'm afraid. In October 2001 a similar explosion took place in Toulouse France causing 29 deaths.

A typical scenario for these type of explosion is airborne Ammonium Nitrate dust (good mix with oxygen) which gets in contact with an ignition source. As there is a lot of oxygen inside the molecule already the substance burn extremely fast (detonation= burns super sonic). Ammonium Nitrate is not only known as fertilizer, but for instance also used as oxidizer in rocket fuel.

There are many reasons why we find hazardous industries close to urban areas. Most reasons have something to do with money. Reduction in traveling costs, cheap groud, shared infrastructure, etc.). We are prepared to spend money on safety, but there is a limit.
In most cases governments try to limit the risks by forcing factories to put strong safety measures in place. These measures will reduce the probability something will happen or the effects. However there was a guy called Muphy..........

Huub

A good example of under estimating risks was the fire works disaster in Enschede. An accident with a few containers containing fire works caused 23 fatalities, 950 wounded and distroyed 200 houses.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_etfXcbguZw