Sunray, TX: Grain Elevator Explosion at about 3:25pm, Mar 28, 2025

(Satellite)

There were no deaths, but five people were injured and taken to area hospitals. I read that at least some of the injured were airlifted to Lubbock.

0:58 video

"Crews are responding to an explosion at a grain elevator in Sunray.

All people have been accounted for, but officials say several have been airlifted to area hospitals. Evacuations are also underway in the area near the building.

For the latest updates on this story, click here: https://tinyurl.com/m2stcbme

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newschannel10, Source: Lilia Mena
They evacuated people and cutoff the power and gas. The power was restored on the 30th, but they expect the gas to be off for a few more days.

Storm Search 7 Chief Meteorologist Corbin Voges posted six photos with the comment:

5 injuries have been confirmed at the Sunray grain elevator. Power to the city of sunray will be cut off at 6PM.

Cause of the explosion is unknown still which occurred at approximately 3:25 PM this afternoon. Evacuation orders are still in place from 2 blocks south of the co-op to 1 block north. ABC 7 Amarillo

Photo Courtesy: Lynne Cartrite

Bob Avant: As a young Ag Engineer, 50 years ago my first job involved working on grain elevator explosions. This was just after the horrific Goodpasture explosion in Houston and the Galveston explosion. Here is what we learned:

1. Grain dust is very explosive.

2. Conditions have to be right to trigger an explosion basically low humidity.

3. Accumulated dust provides the fuel.

4. Electric motors, fans, and bearings as well as arcing switches provide the ignition source.

5. Elevator operations entrain dust in the elevator enclosures.

6. The absence of blow out panels provides containment for a violent explosion.

Tony Pennington: Bob Avant where's the grain?

Bob Avant: Tony Pennington absence of grain is a bigger problem than a full bin because it allows more area for dust entrainment. Looks like those bins might have been empty.

Mark Reardon shared

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Looking West. It looks like a big elevator. The fall protector sticking out at the right indicates that it does get rail service. 

Street View, Apr 2023

Looking East. Note the long cut of cars in the left background. That is more evidence that it gets rail service.

Street View, Jan 2023

The railroad was the Rock Island.

1972/74 Sunray Quad @ 24,000