Breaking - Deadly explosion at animal food processing plant in Omaha

[malaise]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/hurt-explosion-omaha-animal-feed-plant-21600186
<snip>
Omaha's fire chief said Monday that people have died in an explosion and partial building collapse at an animal feed processing plant, but he would not give a specific number of deaths.

Interim Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger said crews have stopped rescue efforts and will start a slower recovery effort to retrieve victims. The International Nutrition plant is unstable, so rescuers must work deliberately to ensure their safety, he said.

Thirty-eight people were inside the building when the explosion occurred Monday morning. Ten were taken to hospitals and four are in critical condition. It's unclear how many people got out without being hurt.

Plant worker Nate Lewis, 21, said he was on the first floor when he heard the blast. The building went dark, so he used light from his cellphone to make his way across the production floor to safety outside.
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[magical thyme]

1. ...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. This is a bad one - CNN says 21 missing or dead.

[malaise]

11. That's a lot of people

[Tree-Hugger]

3. .

[louis-t]

4. Gas explosion?

What could cause a blast at a food processing plant?

[NutmegYankee]

6. Gas or dust are good candidates.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Grain silos tend to go boom often

if atmospherics are not taken care off, I would say that the grain dust is a better candidate myself.

[louis-t]

9. Ah, correct. That's makes sense.

For some reason I was thinking they use mostly corn, but I don't know if corn has the same issues as other grains.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Oh it does

silos, I just shudder about them.

let me add this from the story

The incident happened at a company that produces feed and other products for livestock and poultry about 10 a.m. CT.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/us/omaha-plant-fire/index.html?iref=allsearch

Corn is not a bad guess either.

[malaise]

12. Thanks

Too sad

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. WOW!!!!

[Ikonoklast]

8. If there were less gubbamint regulations plants like this could be more profitable.

They made less money due to gubbamint regulations strangling them so they were forced to spend less on safety.

[malaise]

13. Don't rule that out