Mayor says 14 dead in Texas blast

An aerial view shows the aftermath of a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant in the town of West, near Waco, Texas April 18, 2013. The death toll in the explosion at the plant has reached 14 people, Mayor Tommy Muska said on Thursday. Among the 14 are four emergency medical technicians killed in the blast, which occurred on Wednesday evening after emergency responders rushed to put out a fire at the plant.[Photo/Agencies]

WEST, Texas - The death toll in the West, Texas, explosion at a fertilizer plant has reached 14 people, Mayor Tommy Muska said on Thursday.

Among the 14 are four emergency medical technicians killed in the blast, which occurred on Wednesday evening after emergency responders rushed to put out a fire at the plant.

Five volunteer firefighters are officially listed as missing but feared dead, Muska said.

Earlier on Thursday, officials put the death toll at between 5 and 15.