Workers airlifted to hospital after explosion at North Carolina plant, officials say
An explosion at a North Carolina plant left several workers injured Wednesday, officials say.
The explosion happened in the “finished goods area” at Valley Proteins, an animal product recycling plant, in Rose Hill at about 10:45 a.m., Michael Smith, vice chairman of the company, said in a statement.
Five workers, who are employees of an outside contractor, were injured, Elizabeth Stalls, spokesperson for Duplin County, told McClatchy News.
Four were airlifted from the plant to a burn center in Chapel Hill, and the fifth was taken to a hospital by ambulance and then airlifted to the center, Stalls says.
The company thinks the workers were using a welder when the explosion happened, the statement says.
Officials haven’t said what the workers’ conditions are, but the AP reports that they are conscious.
After the explosion, workers moved away from the area, but operations were able to continue normally after the situation was under control, Stalls told McClatchy.
“A full investigation will take place as to the cause of this accident,” Smith said in the statement. “Early reports suggest the physical plant sustained minor damage. We are praying for the five workers’ health and full recovery.”
It’s unclear what caused the explosion.
Rose Hill is in eastern North Carolina, about 80 miles from Raleigh.
Fire Marshals and the State Bureau of Investigation are looking into the incident, Stalls says.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 3:40 PM.
