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Explosion at Fertilizer Plant in Texas Recalls Similar Disaster in France
The worst post-WWII industrial accident in France occurred at a fertilizer plant in Toulouse in 2001. The explosion killed 31 people and injured 8,000. The damage to the city are similar to scenes from Wednesday night’s explosion in West, Texas.
The remains of a fertilizer plant burn after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, near Waco, Texas. (Photo: Mike Stone/REUTERS)
In Texas, people are still trying to make sense of a massive explosion Wednesday night at a fertilizer plant.
The blast left at least 15 people dead and injured 160 others.
It flattened homes and businesses in the small farming community.
Authorities say at this point, there’s no reason to suspect it was anything other than an industrial accident.
The explosion in West could be heard dozens of miles away.
That kind of devastation has happened before…
…in Toulouse France in September 2001.
Chris Bockman was in Toulouse covering the story for the BBC.
Yesterday’s explosion in Texas brought back a flood of memories.