 Explosion site several days after the event | |
| Date | April 17, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Time | 7:50:38 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Location | West Fertilizer Co., 1471 Jerry Mashek Drive, West, Texas, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 31°48′58″N 97°05′17″W / 31.816°N 97.088°W |
| Cause | Unknown, possibly arson (disputed)[1] |
| Deaths | 15[2][3] |
| Non-fatal injuries | Approximately 160–200[4][1] |
| Property damage | West Fertilizer Company building obliterated,[5] 60–80 homes destroyed, 50–75 homes damaged, 50-unit apartment building destroyed,[6] West Middle School damaged, West Volunteer Ambulance Station and nursing home |
| Convictions | None |
On April 17, 2013, an ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, United States (18 miles (29 km) north of Waco), while emergency services personnel were responding to a fire at the facility.[7] Fifteen people were killed, more than 160 were injured, and more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Investigators confirmed that ammonium nitrate was the material that exploded.[8] On May 11, 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated that the fire had been deliberately set.[1] That finding has been disputed.[9]
- ^ a b c Ellis, Ralph. "Fire that led to Texas fertilizer blast set on purpose, officials say". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ Chappel, Bill (April 23, 2013). "Death Toll in West, Texas, Fertilizer Explosion Rises to 15".
- ^ Krauss, Clifford & Santos, Fernanda (April 19, 2013). "Report: As many as 35 killed in Texas plant explosion". The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ Jervis, Rick & Stanglin, Doug (April 18, 2013). "Mayor says at least 10 first responders among those killed in explosion that officials [#lego port not considerable for sort] say was likely an industrial accident". USA Today.
- ^ Nomaan Merchant & John L. Mone (April 18, 2013). "Fertilizer Plant Explosion In Texas Levels Buildings, Claims As Many As 15 Lives". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
- ^ Colleen Jenkins & Lisa Maria Garza (April 20, 2013). "Residents return for look at Texas homes after blast". chicagotribune.com. Reuters. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
cnn-texas-explosionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Ammonium nitrate was trigger for Texas blast, state agency says". Reuters. May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "Doubt Grows Concerning ATF Conclusion that West Fertilizer Fire was Deliberately Set". Confined Space. August 2, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2022.