A worker who officials thought had clocked out from BP’s Texas City refinery is evidently the 15th victim of the powerful explosion that rocked the sprawling complex Wednesday.

Plant officials raised the death toll from the blast Thursday from 14 to 15, but provided no other details.

Earlier they said one worker was still unaccounted for after the blast, but said they believed the worker had clocked out before the explosion.

Another 100 workers were injured Wednesday in the massive explosion, which was so powerful it broke windows out in homes five miles away from the refinery.

Plant Manager Don Parus said most of the dead workers were employed by a contractor and were performing maintenance work on a unit that enhances gasoline octane when the explosion happened.

The Galveston County medical examiner's office was meeting Thursday with those who believe loved ones were killed in the explosion.

Representatives of the office were in Texas City Thursday to help families identify the 14 victims.

The explosion reminded residents in the Galveston Bay petrochemical town that living close to a potentially explosive refinery complex could be dangerous.

Longtime residents have experienced before the explosions that shatter windows, damage eardrums and send them dashing for cover.

It's a cruel irony that the petrochemical industry that employs a large share of the Texas City population and provides it rich tax base also can kill, injure and frighten the city.

In March 2004, an explosion at the BP plant injured no one.

But 58 years ago, Texas City was the site of the nation's worst industrial accident.

A freighter filled with ammonium nitrate fertilizer exploded in the harbor, killing or injuring a third of the city's population.

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FATAL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN TEXAS
(Source: Associated Press)

March 23, 2005:
Explosion rocks a BP oil refinery in Texas City; at least 14 feared dead and more than 100 employees and residents are injured.

Sept. 2, 2004:
Two employees killed at BP oil refinery in Texas City when burned by superheated water.

March 29, 2000:
Explosion and fire at Phillips Petroleum Co. chemical plant in Pasadena leaves one dead, 71 injured.

July 5, 1990:
Explosion at Arco Chemical Co. chemical plant in Channelview kills 17 people.

Oct. 23, 1989:
Explosion at Phillips Petroleum Co. plastics plant in Pasadena kills 23 people and injures 130.

Oct. 13, 1981:
Explosion at a polyethylene plant owned by Dow Chemical Co. in Freeport kills six employees.

Dec. 27, 1977:
Spark causes flash fire at the Farmer's Export Co. grain elevator on the Galveston docks killing 18 people.

March 17, 1977:
Explosion at the Texaco refinery in Port Arthur leaves seven dead.

Feb. 22, 1976:
Explosion and fire at the Goodpasture Inc. grain elevator on the Houston Ship Channel kills nine.

April 16, 1947: The worst industrial accident in U.S. history occurred when the French ship Grandcamp exploded while docked at Texas City. The vessel was loaded with ammonia nitrite fertilizer. The next day, another fertilizer-laden ship, the High Flyer, also blew up. Combined losses were 576 people killed and another 5,000 injured.