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Jan. 24 marked the two-year anniversary of a massive explosion that rocked a Spring Branch neighborhood, which is still fresh in the minds of local residents.
FOX 26 News reports that early in the morning of Jan. 24, 2020, an explosion happened at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in West Houston and was likely caused by a propylene leak.
"Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the Watson explosion that killed three people and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses," Houston City Councilwoman Amy Peck wrote in a Jan. 24 Twitter post. "The neighbors in Westway Courtyard, Westbranch and surrounding neighborhoods will forever be in my thoughts. We continue to be here to support our community."
The explosion reportedly killed two workers at Watson Grinding and a nearby local resident. Dozens of people were left injured as a result from the explosion and more than 450 structures were damaged or destroyed.
Several lawsuits connected to the explosion are continuing to move slowly forward.
"This was estimated to be eight to 10,000 pounds of TNT equivalency," Muhammad Aziz attorney from Abraham Watkins Law Firm said, according to FOX 26 News. "One of the most powerful bombs that can be dropped on combat is a JDAM. This [explosion was] equivalent to four or five JDAMs being dropped in the middle of a Houston neighborhood."
The explosion caused debris to cake roads about a mile from the factory, ABC 13 News reported.
The City of Houston consequently beefed up its regulatory and review process in an effort to prevent a similar disaster.
"Big changes were made as a result of this including stricter guidelines for hazardous materials storage," Peck added in a separate Jan. 24 tweet. "Thanks to the following for their work on this: @SylvesterTurner, @salliealcorn, @AbbieKamin, @FireChiefofHFD and many more!"
Some homes and buildings damaged in the explosion have been abandoned and have yet to be repaired.