Updated: Photos shows giant mushroom cloud rising hundreds of feet in the air
A massive explosion at a West, Texas fertilizer plant has killed an estimated 5 – 15 people.
Rescuers were conducting another door-to-door search early Thursday for the living and the dead in areas damaged by a massive fertilizer plant explosion in West that left more than 100 injured and may have killed dozens.
As of 4:45, officials say five to fifteen people are believed to be dead. Six firefighters and two paramedics are confirmed dead and seven nursing home residents were missing after the blast according to West EMS Director Dr. George Smith, who said earlier Wednesday night as many as 60 or 70 people may have died in the blast.
One police officer was also still reporting missing.
Smith said early Thursday morning he expects more bodies will be found during the search of damaged and destroyed homes.
After the events at the Boston Marathon just two days ago, and with suspects still not identified, Panicked residents in the area thought that the explosion may be another attack. Their worst fears were seemingly confirmed, as a giant mushroom cloud rose hundreds of feet in the air, leading some to speculate that a nuclear attack was underway.
Watch the following video as a witness recorded the fire, which investigators believe started in an anhydrous ammonia tank and quickly engulfed the entire building.
Moments later, an explosion rocked the area.
Residents as far as Fort Hood, Texas, about 80 miles away, reported hearing the blast.
Unbelievable video shows the magnitude of the blast.