US President Barack Obama consoled a rural Texas town rocked by a deadly fertiliser plant explosion. Source: AAP
US President Barack Obama consoled a rural Texas community rocked by a deadly fertiliser plant explosion, telling mourners they are not alone in their grief and they will have America's support to rebuild from the devastation.
"This small town's family is bigger now," Obama said on Thursday during a memorial service at Baylor University for victims of last week's explosion in nearby West, Texas, that killed 14 and injured 200.
Nearly 10,000 gathered to remember the first responders killed in the blast, a crowd more than triple the size of West's entire population of 2700.
"To the families, the neighbours grappling with unbearable loss, we are here to say you are not alone. You are not forgotten," Obama said to applause. "We may not all live here in Texas, but we're neighbours too. We're Americans too, and we stand with you."
The April 17 explosion left a crater more than 27 metres wide and damaged dozens of buildings, displacing many residents from their homes.
The Insurance Council of Texas estimates it caused more than $US100 million ($A97.59 million) in damage, and crews were sifting the rubble to search for clues to what caused the explosion or whether foul play was involved.
The blast came about 20 minutes after a fire was reported at West Fertilizer Co. Ten of those killed were first responders who sped out to the nighttime blaze.
The memorial service honoured those first responders and two civilians who tried to fight the fire and were posthumously named volunteer first responders.
Obama spoke for 16 minutes, quoting scripture and lauding the men whose flag-draped coffins were before him.
"When you got to the scene, you forgot fear and you fought that blaze as hard as you could, knowing the danger," Obama said.
Both the president and first lady Michelle Obama wiped away a tear as bagpipes sounded Amazing Grace.
After the service, the president and first lady were planning to visit privately with relatives and friends of firefighters killed in the explosion, the White House said.
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