Texas Explosion: At Least 60 People Still Unaccounted For

[Purveyor]

WEST, Texas — About 60 people remained unaccounted for after the explosion at a fertilizer plant here, but authorities remain hopeful that number reflects not a significant loss of life but the difficulty of tracking down people who have been hospitalized or who may have taken shelter with others.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) revealed the number of missing Friday after visiting the area devastated by the explosion. Cornyn was joined by two congressmen, and the three lawmakers described the damage inflicted by the blast at West Fertilizer Co. on Wednesday night. Twelve firefighters and other first responders are believed to be among the dead. At least 160 people are believed to have been injured.

Cornyn said he saw a firetruck crumpled by the blast and a crater where there had once been a cement foundation. Near the plant, he said, there were “still smoldering materials there on-site.”

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http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-explosion-missing-20130419,0,65555.story

[valerief]

1. Tragic. I'm sure it was preventable, too. nt

[mercuryblues]

2. I do

hope they prosecute the asswipe responsible for this. 15 dead, 60 missing, hundreds injured.