The exact details of the damage done by the explosion will be known by Thursday afternoon. There is not enough light to determine the accurate fatality rate and how many are injured.
The explosion shook houses within 50 miles radius and measured equivalent to earthquake of 2.1 magnitude. The affected part of West is now no more than rubbles.
Local fire department officials are afraid that the fatality could be as bad as 70. Currently, the explosion damaged about 50 to 75 houses but the number could go up when the firefighters brushed through all the affected area during the daylight.
The injured residents are still streaming to the local hospital.
The cause of the explosion was not released yet. However, after the brief investigation the authorities are concerned that there could be a serious aftereffect of the explosion.
The fertility plant, West Fertility Co., handles many different dangerous chemicals including anhydrous ammonia and a pungent gas with suffocating fumes.
By Kwan Min-jung
mjkwak@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com