Fertilizer Plant explodes in Texas.

[ThePhantasm]

Gosh that is terrifying.

 

[Wolfwood]

Found this on Reddit, thought it might be useful here too in case anyone needs the info:

Hey Everyone - There seems to be a lack of summarizing information.

Waco is a safe zone

If you are experiencing any of the following:
Irritation of the eyes, nose throat
Burns or blisters.
Difficulty breathing
A pungent smell which feels suffocating
Get out of the area immediately - This is likely to be Anhydorus Ammonia - It clings to the floor/ground and can cause death in high exposure.

Important Information:
Information hotline: 254-202-1100 - Call for any information on loved ones who are affected by this event.

A large amount of people are without power, taking from Nephilis's comment, this number is estimated to be around 1,100.

According to Ben Ferguson, the evacuation area is set to expand.
Anybody who can smell fertilizer and lives in the area of West is recommended to shut their windows (provided they aren't in west) and cover their mouths with a damp cloth. If it's strong and misty, please turn off your utilities and evacuate to a safe place. Tell somebody you are doing this as to avoid worrying your neighbors.

Those wanting to help out, please wait until tomorrow to allow residents and officials to take stock of what they are facing. It is unlikely you are able to do anything helpful right now, through no fault of your own - Even EMS are being turned away. Officials have said they do not require any more help currently and once they are able to see the area in day light, funds and drives will be set up to cover the residents' losses. Please if you live in the area, give blood at the respective places at the bottom of the comment. Please take care.

Details
No details on the cause, however no suspicious motives have been considered. This is seemly an unfortunate accident.
West is being evacuated as of 12:00am (Local time)
75-100 buildings damaged and leveled due to the explosion.
A second tank is under threat from exploding with 200,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia (Thanks to darthn3ss and cjbest).
The triage center has been moved inside after danger from poisonous gases and further explosions.
A press conference held by D.L. Wilson (Department of Public Safety) in West Texas reports West requires no more help. 'Tremendous injuries with confirmed fatalities'.
An Apartment building with 50 apartments is now 'just skeleton standing there' and the nursing home ' 133 has been evacuated with unknown injuries'
A blood drive is being held tomorrow morning at 9:00 am - Look to your local medical centers for more information.
A no fly zone of 3 miles around the plant has been enforced by the FAA.
The plant is smoldering with fumes around.
Homes have been damaged. Reports indicate smashed windows, collapsed walls and ceilings.
Reports of feeling the shock wave from 50 miles away.
Some stations reporting 200 injured, 50-70 dead.
Hill Crest hospital has seen over 100 victims, lesser injuries luckily.
The explosion created a 2.1 event according to the USGS at 8:50pm
Firefighters have been confirmed to be involved in the injured - No number or confirmation of deaths.
Expected Storm Front coming in - Anybody in the area, you should have an idea of how to prepare for these.

Links
Youtube video of the blast
A gif of the moment when the explosion occurred - To those asking about the flare before the explosion, /u/Jungle reports it to be an artifact from the camera capture.
The interior of a home within the blast radius
Local EMS Stream - Thank you /u/SemiStoned
Places to give blood - Thanks to /u/thesoundoholic and /u/OverR

Blood Drive

Thanks to the user KhulaSaand;
Hillcrest Hospital starting at 9 am
Carter Blood beginning at 9 am
Providence Hospital starting at 11 am
Scott Hospital at 8 am
White Hospital at 8 am
Will update with more information as it comes available.

 

[KalMart]

It's almost enough to numb you with so much calamity happening so close in time. Best wishes to those moving forward, and condolences for those lost.

 

[Marvolo]

Video of the explosion. Blows up at 30 seconds.

[YT]ROrpKx3aIjA[/YT]

That is crazy, and that father wasn't being very smart. There is a reason why fertilizer is used in bombs. Ammonium nitrate is highly explosive. What kind of fool parks right outside of a burning building filled with the stuff?

 

[Sawyer]

Video of the explosion. Blows up at 30 seconds.

[YT]ROrpKx3aIjA[/YT]

That is crazy, and that father wasn't being very smart. There is a reason why fertilizer is used in bombs. It is highly explosive. What kind of fool parks right outside of a burning plant filled with the stuff?

Rubber-necking culture.

 

[Marvolo]

Rubber-necking culture.

Too ****ing true. The poor kids ear drums are busted, and there is most likely permanent damage.

And I just read that there is around 60-70 dead, and over 100 injured. This is horrible.

 

[Kane52630]

It's playing all over my local news, that footage was insane.

 

[Marvolo]

Are our Texan Hype members ok?

 

[Kane52630]

Well I'm like about an hour away from Waco... not sure if any hypesters that I know lives over there.

 

[BrollySupersj]

That poor kid. Sounded terrified.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Where do you guys keep seeing 60-70 dead? Almost all the main news networks are only confirming two deaths.
Man, this just keeps getting worse it seems. How are they going to get this under control?

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

Horrible, especially so soon after the events in Boston.

Have to say that for a while, at least until I fully read the news article, I wondered whether the two events were related. Thankfully, they are not.

 

[CGHulk]

Here's another video of the explosion!
[YT]tLWw24OQFdQ&[/YT]

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Are the fires still burning? Seen lots of devestation pictures now, but wondering if the fire has subsided.
Also thing may get worse, as it seems strong storms are headed into the West area today.

 

[Brain Damage]

Goddamn... what a thing to wake up to. That video is horrifying. This is terrible

 

[The Squirrel]

Are our Texan Hype members ok?

Well I'm like about an hour away from Waco... not sure if any hypesters that I know lives over there.

My brother lives in Waco, and he didn't even hear the explosion.

 

[Kane52630]

Yeah I heard in the news some didn't even hear the explosion but felt it. I actually felt it (barely) but I didn't think too much about it until hearing about this in the news.

 

[kane9321]

my god

 

[Anita18]

Jesus. Five blocks of destruction all around. You do not **** with chemicals.

THINGS. STOP BLOWING UP.

How many other small towns are like this, at the mercy of a dangerous chemical plant? We just had lab safety day at my work, but the worst that happens is that someone sets their lab bench on fire. We're a biology lab - nothing blows up. You seriously do no **** with chemicals. Especially large amounts of them. Devastating.

There has to be more than two dead. Firefighters were in the middle of it. Houses were destroyed, and it was in the evening so everyone was home. They just have yet to find the bodies.

 

[Trainwreck2100]

Jesus. Five blocks of destruction all around. You do not **** with chemicals.

THINGS. STOP BLOWING UP.

How many other small towns are like this, at the mercy of a dangerous chemical plant? We just had lab safety day at my work, but the worst that happens is that someone sets their lab bench on fire. We're a biology lab - nothing blows up. You seriously do no **** with chemicals. Especially large amounts of them. Devastating.

There has to be more than two dead. Firefighters were in the middle of it. Houses were destroyed, and it was in the evening so everyone was home. They just have yet to find the bodies.

well the bodies that weren't vaporized

 

[Duke]

Video of the explosion. Blows up at 30 seconds.

[YT]ROrpKx3aIjA[/YT]

That is crazy, and that father wasn't being very smart. There is a reason why fertilizer is used in bombs. Ammonium nitrate is highly explosive. What kind of fool parks right outside of a burning building filled with the stuff?

That damn fool is extremly lucky he & his kid are alive. I mean seriously, who in their right mind is just staring, waiting for something to occur in a potentially dangerous situation??

 

[terry78]

A lot of small towns have chemical plants because frankly big cities couldn't house them. And it can spread a lot faster with all that open space.

 

[Bim]

Oh wow, this is just horrible. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this

 

[Dr. Evil]

The police held a press conference to say that between 5 and 15 are dead.

 

[Maximus One]

It seems like the dad thought they were far enough away. They seemed to be at least a half mile away or more.