How come the US media havent mentioned the Texas Explosion

[brettdale]

We have just had reports here, that a massive explosion has happened at the BP Oil refinery in Texas, over 100 people have been taken to hospital and there are many deaths. The FBI has already said its not a terrorist attack, even though it just happened a wee while ago.

[caligirl]

1. Not a terrorist attack: this could be why they aren't reporting.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. I read about it

How horrible. :( I'm so disgusted at the media now (well I was before but much more-so now). :puke: First they hardly mention the Minnesota murders and now they don't mention this. :argh: All they care about is Terri freakin Schavio!

[shelley806]

19. And the Atlanta murders with the ex drug using "Purpose Driven Life"

Hero angle...

I'm surprised too by the lack of coverage. Once again, a single 'human life' is given preference to others that is so out of proportion with reality you have to know it's spin.

[tubbacheez]

3. Hey, they can't make Big Oil (TM) look bad, now can they? nt

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Is there a link to the story?

I'd like to pass it around.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

9. Here's the current Yahoo link

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050323/us_nm/bp_refinery_explosion_dc_3

<snip>

Television reports showed workers carrying out the injured on stretchers amid piles of twisted metal and rubble. Extreme heat from the fire caused several cars and trucks parked on the site to explode.

"It shook everything," Rose Martin, who works near the refinery, told a local television station. "As soon as I walked out the door (to see it), it was nothing but fire and black smoke."

<snip>

News of the refinery explosion sent gasoline futures prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange to all-time peaks over $1.60 a gallon in electronic trade and boosted cash prices in the Gulf Coast region.

The explosion comes almost one year to the day after another blast and fire rocked the refinery and chemical complex. On March 30, 2004, a large explosion and fire occurred in a gasoline-making unit but there were no injuries.

That 2004 accident resulted in citations for 14 alleged violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (news - web sites)

<snip>

[pnutchuck]

5. Didn't BP just have a scare some months ago?

I remember discussing here on the DU a fire, but no injuries, at an oil refinery in TX. They did an investigation and found nothing to be wrong, sparks from a power line or something as innocuous.

[shelley806]

20. I believe it was the very same BP plant in SE Houston. nt

[HR_Pufnstuf]

30. It was the same plant. Here is the link to 3-31-4 story

http://www.click2houston.com/news/2962367/detail.html

[pnutchuck]

35. Isn't it odd that there was a fire at relatively the same time

as last year? :wtf:

[RobertSeattle]

6. More from a financial angle

Since this refinery produces 3% of US oil the gas futures markets are way up.

CNN just reported 4 killed, etc.

[shelley806]

21. You know, I did well in economics in college (especially the theory which

I loved), but I don't have the brain for this. Why would the gas futures go UP after reporting damge to a refinery that produces 3% of US oil? Dn't get it.


"Since this refinery produces 3% of US oil the gas futures markets are way up."

[Lindacooks]

23. Supply and demand.

And, of course, companies who exploit every bit of bad news about gas or oil supplies by raising prices. Plus, futures markets are basically a bet that the price will go up.

[shelley806]

28. Thanks; you know I came to this conclusion right after I posted it.

Decreased Oil raises prices...Duh. Makes one worry if some of this might not be intentional.

[Lindacooks]

29. Well, raising prices on speculation sure seems intentional.

But just look at Exxon's profits:

http://www.forbes.com/markets/2005/01/31/cx_ab_0131video2.html

[tavalon]

7. Because Terri Shiavo isn't involved? n/t

[lapfog_1]

10. No, listen... when she wakes up all better

and finds out what gasoline is going to be...
she will immediately remove the feeding tube herself!
Therefore, the MSM will HAVE to cover this story.

(Sorry, my cynical side just couldn't take it anymore)

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. They have.

I heard it on the radio over 2 hours ago.

[ElectroPrincess]

11. I wonder ... can they assert this claim with any confidence ATT?

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Reuters has covered it

Explosion Rocks BP Texas City Refinery

TEXAS CITY, Texas (Reuters) - An explosion rocked BP's huge refinery in Texas City, Texas, on Wednesday, the company said, and local television reported that four people were killed in the blast.
Another 10 people were rushed to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, according to the televised report.

The BP refinery, the third largest refinery in the country, has a throughput of 470,000 barrels per day.

"Our firemen are on scene assessing the situation and we have no further information at this time," said a spokeswoman for the Texas City Fire Department.

Clouds of black smoke were billowing from several fires at the plant. One refinery expert said the site appeared to be part of the refinery used to make gasoline.

more: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7988179

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. The Associated Press has mentioned it

At least one dead, dozens injured in refinery blast

03/23/2005

By PAM EASTON / Associated Press

An explosion rocked a BP oil refinery Wednesday, killing at least one person and injuring more than 70.

BP spokesman Neil Chapman confirmed fatalities, but said he did not have a total number. There are "more than one," he said.

The blast sparked a fire that was put a few hours later, and workers were searching through the rubble for survivors or bodies.

Twenty people were admitted to University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a spokeswoman said. Fifty people were taken to Mainland Medical Center in Texas City, spokesman Harold Fattig said. Two more were taken to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center in Webster, spokeswoman Marilyn Smith said.

more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D890V0GG0.html

[Junkdrawer]

14. Perhaps the answer is in this ABC link...

.....

A refinery explosion forced the evacuation of the plant for several hours in March. Afterward, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the refinery $63,000 for safety violations, including problems with its emergency shutdown system and employee training.

OSHA also fined the refinery after two employees were burned to death by superheated water in September.

.....

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=608333

[ananda]

15. all over the news here

It's been nonstop coverage on all the local news stations here in Houston...

Also, BBC World led with it and gave it a good airing.

It was a bad explosion. Four people are known killed, but there are still some people unaccounted for. Over a hundred have been hospitalized, some in critical condition, some in the Galveston burn unit.

Sue

[liberalla]

33. I hadn't heard about it until I saw BBC World...

and then I was shocked there wasn't a lot more on domestic news! It also crossed my mind they're going to use it as another reason for gas prices going up....

[Rex]

16. Exactly!

nt

[JNelson6563]

17. The don't want to panic investors

with a much needed refinery down coupled with GM swirling the bowl, we'll you'd be looking at anarchy.

Julie

[paineinthearse]

18. Do you mean these?

Or am I halucinating again?

BP Says Death Toll 14 in Texas Plant Explosion
Reuters - 54 minutes ago
TEXAS CITY, Texas (Reuters) - An explosion rocked BP's sprawling refining complex in Texas City, Texas, on Wednesday, killing at least 14 and causing extensive damage, the company said. "We believe 14 people ...
14 believed dead, 100 injured in US oil refinery explosion Malayala Manorama
BP believes at least 14 dead in plant blast Denton Record Chronicle (subscription)
KXTV - ABC News - Guardian - Metro Toronto - all 162 related»

[shelley806]

24. Thanks for the recent update...Sad news though. 14 dead. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

22. You mean the one reported on the BBC this afteroon?

Please click here.

If you want to know what's happening in America, you have to read the British press. I thought everybody knew that by now.

[shelley806]

26. LOL ! During the elections I did that. Too bad the rest of America

didn't, or we would probably have a much better current state of affairs! TU for the link. I'll check it out now.

[karlrschneider]

25. There was an explosion at Sinclair's refinery in Tulsa yesterday

Maybe it didn't make national news but was on all the local stations around here. Nobody was killed or even injured (I think)...didn't look for a link but there's probably more at www.kotv.com or www.ktul.com or www.kjrh.com

...

[spanone]

27. All Terri All the Time.

n/t

[NVMojo]

31. people in the Alaska oil industry say the ANWR was a BP payback

for debt owed over the Uzbekistan pipeline...

[Melynn]

32. How does the FBI know it isn't a terrorist attack?

So soon after the explosion? That makes me suspicious.

I'm not saying it was a attack but it seems to me a little investigation is in order before making a public pronouncement.

[T Town Jake]

34. Guess you don't watch much news...

...I saw it reported on the one major network I watched for the evening news, and all three cable stations (CNN, MSNBC, and Faux) yesterday.

:shrug: