Obama pays tribute to victims to explosion at Texas plant

 US President Barack Obama paid tribute Thursday to the 14 people who died in last week's explosion at a fertilizer plant that devastated the small Texas town of West.

 

Speaking at a memorial service in the nearby town of Waco, Obama said that though the tragedy on April 17 came when the country was still reeling from the Boston bombing and the aftermath of widespread flooding, local families should know that "while the eyes of the world have been fixed on places far away our hearts have been here."

 

The memorial was attended by hundreds of firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other first-reponders who came to honour the volunteer firefighters who died in the massive explosion that occurred as they were battling a blaze at the fertilizer plant. Among the 14 people who died were 11 firefighters. About 200 people were injured. The president told the crowd that no words could adequately describe the courage displayed by those who died.

 

"What I can do is offer the love and support and prayers of the nation," said Obama as he stood before a row of flag-draped coffins."We give thanks for the courage, compassion and incredible grace of the people of West," Obama said. "We are here to say you are not alone, you are not forgotten. We stand with you and we do not forget and we will be there even after the cameras leave." Investigators are still combing through the rubble at West Fertilizer Company, looking for clues. So far they have ruled out only natural causes such as a lightning strike.

 

-Sapa