多事之秋: 德克薩斯一家化肥廠發生劇烈爆炸

A massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas Wednesday evening hasinjured dozens of people and left an unknown number of people dead..

爆炸，造成數十人受傷，目前死亡人數不詳。

Local firefighters were battling a fire at the plant in the town of West,located just outside the city of Waco, when the blast occurred. An official with the Texas Department of Public Safety says between 50-75 houses near the plant were destroyed, and that many residents were injured.

當地的消防人員正在這座化肥廠滅火。該廠位於韋科市外的一個韋斯特鎮。德克薩斯州公共安全部一名官員說，化肥廠附近的50至75所房屋被毀，很多居民受傷。

Various news outlets have said at three people have been killed, but authorities will not give an exact number. An official with the Waco police department says some firefighters are missing.

一些媒體報道說，爆炸造成三人死亡，但有關當局沒有透露死亡人數。韋科市警察局一名官員說，一些消防隊員下落不明。

Many residents of the community were evacuated, including a nursing home with over 100 residents. Emergency crews are still conducting a house-to-house search within the blast area to find anyone who may still be trapped. Authorities did not say how the initial fire started at the plant.

當地很多居民已被疏散，包括住在一家療養院裏的100多人。緊急救援人員還在爆炸附近地區挨家挨戶尋找可能被陷困的人。有關當局沒有說明化肥廠是如何起火的。

A nearby high school football field was turned into emergency staging area to treat the victims.

附近一所中學的美式足球場被用做緊急救治受傷者的場所。

Texas Governor Rick Perry says state resources have been mobilized to provide assistance to local authorities. Emergency crews from dozens of nearby towns and counties traveled to West to assist with the response.

德克薩斯州長佩裏發表聲明說，已經動用本州資源，爲當地有關當局提供援助。附近數十個鎮縣派出緊急救援人員前往韋斯特鎮提供協助。