BROADCAST SCRIPT
I’m here in Camilla, uncovering what neighbors saw and what comes next for the plant.
Late last night, an explosion at Tyson's Camilla poultry plant left a 61-year-old woman dead and several workers injured, two of whom were transported to the hospital with severe burns.
The blast, believed to have started in the boiler room, sent flames and smoke into the night sky, shocking nearby residents.
"It was a loud boom, and then you see the flames. It probably was about five to ten minutes of burning… And then the ambulance and everybody got out of there, but it burned for a few minutes," said Peterson.
Katoria Peterson and her grandfather, Larry Thompson, live across from the plant.
They say they've never seen anything like this before.
"I know a lot of people that work over there, and they're from all around," said Thompson.
Coroner Robbie Willis says the victim, a 61-year-old woman, wasn't a plant employee. Her husband, a truck driver, was in the building during the explosion but unharmed. She was asleep in their truck when the blast burned the section where she was resting. The couple, from Las Vegas, Nevada, was in Camilla for his work.
Despite the explosion, operations at the plant continued this morning, raising concerns from workers and residents about safety.
"Some of them are at work now. I don't understand why they're at work now because if you can smell it… I can smell it from my window, just the smell of burning. So, if I can smell it, I know it's worse over there," said Peterson.
The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, representing about 1,600 workers at the plant, issued a statement urging for safety to be a top priority.
They called for a thorough investigation into the explosion and emphasized the need for workers to feel safe returning to the facility.
While the woman's body has been recovered, neighbors tell me they're still worried about whether it's safe for people to be working there. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the boiler to explode.
UPDATE: 3:28 PM
- The victim's body was recovered around 2:00 p.m. hours after the explosion.
- The woman didn't work at the plant. She was accompanying her husband who was driving a truck.
- Tyson Foods released a statement offering condolences.
The body of the woman killed in the Tyson Foods plant explosion has been recovered. The Mitchell County deputy coroner says she was 61 years old.
She was accompanying her husband who is a truck driver. The explosion burned the portion of the truck where she was sleeping. Both the victim and her husband are from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Her husband was in the building at the time of the explosion but wasn't hurt.
An autopsy will be performed by the Georgia State Medical Examiner's Office.
A spokesperson for Tyson Foods sent WTXL this statement:
"We are working closely with local authorities to determine the cause of a late-night fire at our Camilla, Georgia facility that resulted in the death of one person and several injuries. We extend our deepest condolences to their family and friends during this difficult time. Right now we are still gathering the facts, but ensuring the safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fire.”
UPDATE: 12:52PM
SEE FULL PRESS RELEASE FROM THE RETAIL, WHOLESALE, AND DEPARTMENT STORE UNION:
Overnight, there was an explosion at Tyson’s Camilla, Georgia poultry plant represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
Stuart Appelbaum, President of the RWDSU, which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, and Edgar Fields, President of the Southeast Council of the RWDSU, issued the following joint statement:
“Sadly, our members have reported to us that a person was severely injured and may not survive; and several union members were severely burned in a boiler explosion this morning at the Tyson poultry processing facility in Camilla, Georgia.
“We are working with the company, and local emergency authorities to ensure that all the workers impacted are taken care of. The health and safety of workers must be a top priority at poultry plants, and we are working to assist anyone injured last night. RWDSU representatives are on the ground and available to assist. Our members and the community of Camilla depend on this facility operating, it is too early to tell what happened last night but there must be a thorough investigation into this incident, and workers must be able to work safely in the facility.
“We stand with the workers, our members for over 50 years, at this facility, and countless others across the industry who need increased safety at work. No worker should ever have to worry that when they go to work, they may not be able to return home safe and sound.”
The Southeast Council of the RWDSU represents about 1,600 workers at the bargaining table at this Tyson facility in Camilla, Georgia. The RWDSU represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern United States, which includes workers at other Tyson facilities.
ORIGINAL POST:
A woman is presumed dead after an explosion at the Tyson Foods plant in Camilla, Georgia.
The explosion happened late last night. Mitchell County Coroner Jamey Thompson told WTXL her body has not yet been recovered.
Thompson says there were also a few injuries, and that two to three people were taken by ambulance to an area hospital.
Fire crews were on the scene through the night and are currently working through the rubble. We're learning the explosion happened towards the back of the plant.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
