DIMMITT, TEXAS – An explosion and ensuing fire at a West Texas dairy farm on April 10 killed approximately 18,000 cattle, according to numerous media reports.

The Castro County Sheriff’s Office said that when emergency crews arrived on the scene at Southfork Dairy Farm, they determined a farm employee was trapped inside and fire crews were able to locate the worker and remove the person from the building. Media reports indicate the person was hospitalized and in critical but stable condition. 

The event marked the deadliest barn fire involving cattle since at least 2013, the Animal Welfare Institute shared.

 Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.