Fertilizer Plant Explodes In Central Texas; Up To 15 Reportedly Killed

[UPDATE 6:05 a.m.] West, TX, Police say up to 15 people have been killed in a fertilizer plant explosions.  More than 160 are reported to be injured.  Rescue workers are still searching the rubble of dozens of leveled homes.  Several firefighters are missing as well.

[UPDATE 11:40 p.m.] Roughly 60 to 70 people are reportedly dead, including several firefighters, as well as over a hundred injured, according to KWTX.

[UPDATE 10:59 p.m.] Authorities are ordering residents of West, TX, to evacuate the town over fears there could be another explosion.

According to WFAA-TV, shock waves of the explosion could be felt in parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.  West is located north of Waco.

Here is some startling video of the explosion from a YouTube videographer watching the fire burning at the plant.  WARNING: If you are easily startled or frightened, do not watch this video.

[ORIGINAL] WACO, Texas (AP) — Authorities say an explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas, has injured several people.

A dispatcher with the West, Texas, Fire Department says the explosion happened Wednesday night at a fertilizer plant in the community north of Waco. She says any casualties would be taken to hospitals in Waco.

Gayle Scarbrough, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Safety in Waco, told television station KWTX that DPS troopers have been transporting the injured to hospitals in their patrol cars. She says six helicopters were also en route.

KWTX reports that the explosion at West Fertilizer was reported at around 7:50 p.m. in a frantic call from the scene.

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Additional contributions by Dennis Foley, 710 KEEL News