An explosion and fire at a Texas ranch killed about 18,000 cattle and injured a worker, authorities said Thursday.
“This was the deadliest cattle barn fire in Texas history and the investigation and cleanup may take some time,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement.
The explosion rocked Southfork Dairy Farms near the town of Dimmitt, Texas, on Monday night.
Firefighters and police immediately attended the scene and “verified that a person was trapped,” the Castro County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. The person was rescued and taken to a hospital in Lubbock, he added.
The cause of the explosion and fire remains unclear, said Sid Miller, who described the event as a “horrific event”.
“Once we know the cause and facts of this tragedy, we will ensure that the public is informed so that such tragedies can be avoided in the future,” the Texas agriculture commissioner said.
Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera told CBS in Amarillo that the system for removing manure from stables may be “overheating.” And he added that the methane “may have ignited and spread with the explosion and fire,” adding that a probe will have to determine the exact cause.
“Farms need to do more to protect animals and implement fire safety measures,” tweeted the Animal Welfare Institute, one of the oldest animal welfare charities in the United States.
Source: DN
