With all respect and grief for the mourning, was the explosion in Texas a bombing?
We are in a remote part of south australia, I beg pardon to all whom may grieving, was this a fertilizer explosion, or a bombing? Do they know? Please accept in advance my apologies if this is a callous question.
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Not a callous question at all. West isn’t too far from where I live. I’ve driven to and through it many times. The facts aren’t in, so I can’t say whether it was a bombing or simply a terrible accident. However, I suspect the latter. Fertilizer plants are notoriously dangerous. I think it’s easy to think it might have been a bombing because of Boston and what seems to be a flurry of related (though not) incidents, but probably not.
As far as anyone knows, is was an accidental explosion at the plant. Fertilizer is known to be very flammable, so the resulting explosion does not surprise me. Things like this have happened before, there has been at least one case involving a rocket fuel factory.
I haven’t heard anything to suggest it is anything other than a terrible accident. But even if it was not, it is probably too soon to tell. They still can’t get close to the place because of the toxic fumes and heat.
No, it was a fertilizer plant. In other words, a bomb waiting for an industrial accident to happen.
No, probably not. Texas has an abysmal record for workplace safety; I believe it is the worst of all 50 states. The spirit of rugged individualism along with an extremely pro-business culture has kept union activity at a minimum here and no-one else is going to look out for the workers; especially not those whose bottom line it would impact.
OSHA is over worked, under staffed and kept underfunded to insure they stay that way. They cannot inspect businesses the way they need to insure a safe working environment and will usually only inspect if they receive a call from a worker. In this day and age, workers are not going to call and risk losing their job. So, no inspections, no one enforcing worplace safety. No threat of punishment or incentive to provide more than a minimally safe place. Besides, workers are cheap to replace.
My news guy said that the town was basically built around this monstrosity and homes were very close to it.
@rojo
To corroborate your point, this source says that plant had already been fined for safety violations.
Otherwise, how can you criticize that which is a slice of heaven from an Ayn Rand-style paradise?
That explosion wouldn’t have happened if the workers had been allowed to carry their guns at work! ;-)
@trailsillustrated this was an accident that caused a fire that caused an explosion. There are several volunteer firefighters confirmed dead and several more missing and they are still combing the wreckage of the houses and apartments looking for additional victims.
There is not talk of a bombing or terrorism.
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