President Barack Obama offered his thoughts and prayers Thursday morning in a statement.
He said, "Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas in the aftermath of last night's deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant. A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives."
The president also thanked the first responders who worked through the night and treated the wounded. He said that his administration is in close contact with state and local partners to make sure there are no unmet needs as search and rescue and response operations continue.
President Obama finished his statement by saying, "West is a town that many Texans hold near and dear to their hearts, and as residents continue to respond to this tragedy, they will have the support of the American people."
