tight-knit

160人以上もの負傷者を出したアメリカテキサス州の爆発事故ですが、消防士が数名行方不明になっているようです。

Firefighters missing after massive, deadly Texas blast
(CNN) -- Teams of first responders descended on the devastated town of West, Texas, early Thursday where a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant left scores of casualties and turned homes to rubble.

The number of dead remained unclear, with police saying it could be between five and 15. More than 160 people were injured and "three to four" firefighters were missing or unaccounted for, officials said.

Firefighters were battling the blaze that precipitated the explosion Wednesday night. And a storm system heading into the area brought helpful rain -- but also heavy winds that might make it much tougher to contain the fire.

It's unknown whether residents were trapped under remnants of destroyed buildings, authorities said early Thursday. Teams were combing through flattened areas, but nails and other debris created safety risks, said Waco Police Sgt. William Patrick Swanton. Also, the Department of Homeland Security said federal and state authorities were taking steps to secure the area by shutting down local rail freight service and nearby utilities and restricting flights over the area.
＜中略＞
"A tight-knit community has been shaken, and good, hard-working people have lost their lives," President Obama said in a statement.
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/texas-explosion/index.html?hpt=us_c1

今回の記事で用いられているtight-knitはもちろん「堅く編んだ」ではなく「＜家族・地域住民が＞互いに親密な」という意味になります。(『ジーニアス英和辞典　第4版』大修館書店) 爆発によって「地域社会の結束」がぐらついてしまっているようです。

このタイミングで爆発が起こると、ボストンのテロとの関係性を疑ってしまいますね。有毒ガスの排出も懸念されています。二次災害はなんとしても避けたいところです。(Hatahata)