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WEST—The number of chaplains from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention working with emergency responders and families affected by a deadly fertilizer plant explosion in the central Texas town of West rose to 11 on Friday.
Also, the remains of 12 people were identified, but the total number of dead was not yet known. At a Friday news conference, Texas Sen. John Cornyn reported that 60 people were unaccounted for. Injury reports from the blast at the West Fertilizer Co. plant continued to climb, from an initial report of 150 to more than 200 on Friday, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Authorities said that of the dead, five were firefighters and three were emergency medical technicians who arrived moments before the fire erupted into the deadly explosion.
Dozens of homes, businesses and a nursing home were damaged or destroyed. About 130 residents from the nursing home were displaced, news reports said
The blast reportedly was felt as far away as Waxahachie, nearly 50 miles north, and destroyed structures within four-to-six blocks of the plant.
Darryl Cason, chaplaincy director for SBTC Disaster Relief, said the 11 chaplains would be deployed there at least through the weekend, splitting responsibilities between ministering to emergency personnel and families affected by the blast. The SBTC chaplains provided a debriefing on Thursday night for emergency responders aimed at helping them process the day’s operations.
A shower unit from Linden, Texas will set up for emergency crews at First Baptist Church in the nearby town of Gholson.
West, a town of 2,700, is about 80 miles south of Dallas on Interstate 35.
Gov. Rick Perry declared the town a disaster area on Thursday.
Cason said prayer for the families affected is the greatest need. On Thursday morning, Wade Taylor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Alvarado and an SBTC chaplain, was able to counsel a family who lost a son in the blast, Cason said.
Also, chaplains will provide spiritual support or simply a listening ear to the many law enforcement officers on hand.
Cason said the Salvation Army has five feeding canteens set up. A emergency command post was established at a local Catholic church.
The Dallas News on Friday listed the following numbers from state emergency management: 200 injuries; 150 buildings destroyed; 50 buildings cleared by search and rescue teams; 25 buildings yet to be cleared; three destroyed fire trucks and one destroyed EMS vehicle.
