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| Texas fertiliser plant blast leaves scores injured | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scores of people are reported injured and others are trapped in burning buildings after a huge explosion at a fertiliser plant near Waco in the US state of Texas. | |
| Firefighters, ambulances and six helicopters have been mobilised to deal with the situation. | Firefighters, ambulances and six helicopters have been mobilised to deal with the situation. |
| Several buildings are still on fire, after the blast at the West Fertilizer plant about 19:50 (00:50 GMT). | |
| An official confirmed there were deaths, but could not give a figure. | |
| Dean Wilson, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, told a news conference that they were still conducting house to house searches. | |
| He said the fire was still smouldering and that no firefighters were tackling it as there was the risk of further explosions. | |
| Half the town had been evacuated, he added. | |
| The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that firefighters had been trying to put out a fire at the plant when the explosion happened, and that some were among those injured. | The Waco Tribune-Herald reported that firefighters had been trying to put out a fire at the plant when the explosion happened, and that some were among those injured. |
| The blast happened in West, a town of about 2,700 people some 20 miles (32km) north of Waco. | The blast happened in West, a town of about 2,700 people some 20 miles (32km) north of Waco. |
| TV images showed streams of emergency vehicles descending on the site and ambulance crews using a nearby sports field as an emergency treatment area. | TV images showed streams of emergency vehicles descending on the site and ambulance crews using a nearby sports field as an emergency treatment area. |
| Glenn A Robinson, chief executive of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco, told CNN that his hospital had received 66 injured people including 38 who were seriously hurt. | Glenn A Robinson, chief executive of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco, told CNN that his hospital had received 66 injured people including 38 who were seriously hurt. |
| He said the hospital was seeing "everything from orthopaedic injuries to patients that are experiencing serious blood loss". | |
| McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said: "It's a lot of devastation. I've never seen anything like this. It looks like a war zone with all the debris." | McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said: "It's a lot of devastation. I've never seen anything like this. It looks like a war zone with all the debris." |
| Unconfirmed reports said a nursing home had collapsed in the explosion and some people were believed trapped inside. | Unconfirmed reports said a nursing home had collapsed in the explosion and some people were believed trapped inside. |
| Witness Debby Marak told the Associated Press news agency that she had seen smoke coming from the area near the plant and had driven over to see what was happening. | Witness Debby Marak told the Associated Press news agency that she had seen smoke coming from the area near the plant and had driven over to see what was happening. |
| She said that when she arrived, two boys ran toward her screaming that the authorities had told them to leave because the fertiliser plant was going to explode. | She said that when she arrived, two boys ran toward her screaming that the authorities had told them to leave because the fertiliser plant was going to explode. |
| She said she drove a short distance before the blast happened. | She said she drove a short distance before the blast happened. |
| "It was like being in a tornado," she said. "Stuff was flying everywhere. It blew out my windshield. It was like the whole earth shook." | "It was like being in a tornado," she said. "Stuff was flying everywhere. It blew out my windshield. It was like the whole earth shook." |
| Another resident told KWTX-TV that she heard several explosions from 13 miles (20km) away. | Another resident told KWTX-TV that she heard several explosions from 13 miles (20km) away. |
| "It sounded like three bombs going off very close to us,'' said Lydia Zimmerman. | "It sounded like three bombs going off very close to us,'' said Lydia Zimmerman. |
| The air in town was still covered in acrid smoke more than two hours after the explosion. | |
| The area around the site was littered with shards of wood, bricks and glass. | |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry said in a statement: "We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident. | Texas Governor Rick Perry said in a statement: "We are monitoring developments and gathering information as details continue to emerge about this incident. |
| "We have also mobilised state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene." | "We have also mobilised state resources to help local authorities. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of West, and the first responders on the scene." |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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