Officials warn the death toll from an explosion and fire at a fertilizer plant in Texas is expected to rise.

The plant, in a town called West, caught fire, then exploded around 8pm local time on Tuesday.

Dozens of homes and other buildings were damaged in the blast, including a nursing home.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) D.L WILSON, TEXAS DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY SPOKESMAN SAYING:

"Right now we have tremendous amount of injuries -- probably over a hundred injuries at this time. At this time we do have confirmed fatalities. The number is not current yet it could go up by the minute. We are in there searching the area right now."

Emergency workers began treating victims on a nearby football field.

The town's mayor says the focus now is on locating victims and is asking for the country's support.

SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY MUSKA, MAYOR OF WEST TEXAS, SAYING:

"It's not the end of the world, it's just a big old cut that we got across our hearts. So, we