Evening star., 1948-07-28
1>4OOReportedHurt as Explosion
WrecksLudwigshafenDyeWorks
Flames 7 Miles
High; Fire Burns
Two Hours Lute :
By the Associated Press

WI S@ y
28.-Police said between 500 and
500 persons were killed and
1,400 injured today in an ex-
plosion and fire which wrecked
the I. G. Farben chemical plant
at LudWigShafen.
The disaster in the French zone
city appeared to be the greatest i'll
Europe since the war. The cause OF
the explosion was not known. \
Police in Mannheim, an American
zone city across the Rhine from
LudWigshafen. said about 1.400 in
jured already have been taken to
hospitals.
The plant employed from 5000 to
1000 chemical workers and COM
prised several buildings spraWled
over a wide area
6Story Building Shattered.
The explosion shattered a six
story building, shooting a fountain
of fire and smoke 2 miles into the
air The ruins were burning furi-
ously two hours after the explosion
Flames enveloped the building. A
cloud of smoke half mile square
obscured the scene. For time, fire
men were unable even to get close.
The injured poured across the
river into Mannheim. They crowded
the hospitals here and in towns
surrounding Ludwigshafen. Work.
men from parts of the plant distant
from the explosion said the heat
and wreckage made it impossible to
rescue those trapped.
From all parts of Western Ger
many rescue and police squads were
rushed to LudWigShafen.
Two ReScuerS Killed.
Even rescuers were killed Two
died when two vehicles rushing to
the scene colllded
A comparable disaster occurred in
Texas City. Tex, in April of last
wear, when an estimated $50 persons
we're killed and 5000 injured when
a French ship loaded with nitrates
blew up in the harbOr. Last August
more than 1876 persons were killed in
the explosion of Spanish arsenal
2 miles from the center of Cadiz.
French officials on the scene re-
ported to American Military Govern
ment men here that the explosion
occurred in structure known as
the nitrate building"
Hundreds of windows in Mann
helm were smashed by the conCus-
sion.
Doctors in Mannheim City Hos
pital said, The hospital is full of
victims" They said the other VIC
tins pouring in would have to be
sent to Heidelberg.
Telephone Lines Cut.
Several telephone lines between
Mannheim and Ludwigshafen were
DESTROYED. The stricken city could
not be reached from Frankfurt.
The plant was branch of the
sprawling !. G.. Farben chemical
trust before the combine was split
up by four-power order. 1t was the
main factory in Ludwigshafen and
covered several acres.
The plant has been reported max
ing ayes.
Unconfirmed reports in recent
months have stated that French
authorities were making high eX-
p!osion propulsion fluids in the plant
for experiments with vi and w
missiles.
Many Hurt BY Conclusion.
Mannheim police headquarters
said many" persons were injured
in Mannheim by conclusion from
the explosion. Some 300 policemen
were sent from here to help rescue
work.
American military police also
went to the scene with American
and German fire companies.
All police from the American zone
state of Hesse and from the French
zone state of RhinelandPfalz were
ordered to send men to the area.
Red Cross workers for miles also
rushed to the scene.