A giant mining operation has exploded in Dimmit, Texas. Authorities say it was the deadliest livestock farm fire in Texas history.
The record is impressive. Some 18,000 cows perished in the explosion of a dairy farm in Texas, in the south of the United States, local authorities announced on Thursday April 13. “This is the deadliest livestock farm fire in Texas history and the investigation and clearing is likely to take time”Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement. (in English).
🚨 #UPDATE: Mass Casaulty Incident has declared after explosion at dairy farm in Dimmitt, Texas. So far one person is in critical condition at this time with information being very limited this was moments after the explosion that took place #SouthForkDairy #CastroCounty… pic.twitter.com/R5GjvUMHN5
— LockharTVMedia (@LockharTVMedia) April 11, 2023
Firefighters and police rushed to the scene “discovered that a person was trapped inside”. This farm worker was rescued and airlifted to a hospital, the Castro County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook. (in English).
Possible overheating of the manure removal system
The origin of the explosion and the fire has not been determined, according to Sid Miller. An investigation is opened. “As soon as we know the cause and the facts surrounding this tragedy, we will ensure that the public is fully informed, so that such disasters can be avoided in the future.”he added.
Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera told CBS that a barn manure removal system may have been in operation. “overheated”. He added that the methane could “ignite and then spread with explosion and fire”. Highly flammable, methane is emitted by the digestive system of cows, which expel it by burping. It is also a powerful greenhouse gas, responsible for global warming.
“Mega-farms” “harmful” to the environment and animals
Asked by The worldthe association Compassion in World Farming USA denounces “a tragedy that shows the extent of the possible disasters when a large number of animals are concentrated on industrial exploitation”. “Dairy mega-farms are bad not only for the environment and human health, but also for animal welfare”said one of its representatives, Julia Johnson, to the daily.
According to data from another association, the Animal Welfare Institute (in English)about 6.5 million farm animals have died in farm fires in the United States since 2013. Among them, an overwhelming majority of chickens: 6 million.