West Marks One Year Since Fertilizer Plant Explosion

April 17 marked one year since the tragic explosion at a West, Texas fertilizer plant that ripped through the small Texas town, leaving 15 people dead and injuring more than 300.

One year later, it’s still unknown what caused the initial fire that ignited 30 tons of ammonium nitrate, leading to the explosion that left a 93-foot-wide, 10-foot-deep crater in the ground. Hundreds of homes and buildings were demolished, and $100 million in damages done.

At 7:51 p.m. Thursday, the town marked a moment of silence at the exact time of the explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. plant in honor of the victims.

Though signs of rebuilding mark the town, including 70 homes either rebuild or in the process, the emotional toll is still evident.

“A lot of them have suffered some type of post-traumatic stress of some sort,” Mayor Tommy Muska told the Associated Press. “I am definitely concerned. We are not going to lose sight of that.”

The thoughts and prayers of the Texas refinery accident attorneys at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers are with the families and friends of those affected by the West explosion this week.