Scores of people are injured and an unknown number are dead after a huge explosion at a fertiliser plant near Waco in the US state of Texas.
Dozens of homes and buildings have been destroyed, and several are still on fire, after the West Fertilizer plant exploded at about 19:50 (00:50 GMT).
Some people are thought still to be trapped in buildings and a number of firefighters are reported missing.
Emergency services officials said ammonia may have caused the explosion.
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It was like being in a tornado. Stuff was flying everywhere. It blew out my windshield. It was like the whole earth shook.”
Debby Marak, witness
It has been reported the company had 54,000lbs (20 tonnes) of anhydrous ammonia on site.
Firefighters had been tackling a blaze at the plant when the explosion in West, a town of about 2,700 people some 20 miles (32km) north of Waco, occurred.
Police said the half the town had been evacuated, amid fears of possible further explosions or a leak of toxic gas.
The plant is right on the edge of town, only a few hundred metres from houses, a school and nursing home.
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