Summary
19 April 2013
The authorities in the town of West in Texas are continuing to investigate what caused the blast at a fertiliser factory, which is now known to have killed 14 people and injured dozens more. The area surrounding the plant is still sealed off by police.
Reporter:
Alastair Leithead
Rescue workers search through the remains of an apartment building after the explosion.
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Report
With the search and rescue operation now winding down, the authorities in West are focussing on ensuring there are no hazardous chemicals remaining on the site, which could be a threat to the public.
They are also trying to establish exactly what caused the fire and the explosion that followed it. There is little left of the factory or dozens of houses that bore the brunt of the blast.
Police are expected to start allowing residents back into the restricted area in the next 24 hours so people can see what's left of their homes and possessions.
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Vocabulary
- search and rescue operation
procedure to find and save people from a disaster
- winding down
slowly stopping
- ensuring
making sure
- hazardous chemicals
dangerous materials
- threat
possible or likely danger
- to establish
to find and prove
- dozens
groups of 12 (used here to mean lots)
- bore the brunt
felt the most force
- blast
explosion
- restricted
limited
