An explosion and fire at a Tyson Foods poultry processing facility in Camilla, Georgia claimed the life of a woman and left several others injured, authorities confirmed.
The blast occurred around 11 p.m. Thursday, reportedly stemming from a boiler explosion, according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents the plant's 1,600 workers. The explosion caused part of a wall to collapse and ignited a fire that took hours to contain.
The deceased was identified as the wife of a truck driver who hauls products for the facility, Mitchell County Coroner Jamey Thompson said. She was sleeping in his truck near the plant when the explosion occurred. Her body was initially trapped under debris, delaying recovery efforts.
Several workers were severely burned, the union reported. The exact number of injuries remains unclear as officials continue their investigation.
Tyson Foods told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution it is cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the explosion. "Ensuring the safety of our team members is our top priority," a spokesperson emphasized.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the incident.
The Camilla plant, which underwent a significant expansion in 2019, employs hundreds of workers and is a key facility for Tyson Foods.
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