1 worker killed, 4 hurt in Nebraska ethanol plant explosion
A worker was killed and four others were hurt Monday after an explosion at an ethanol plant in eastern Nebraska.
The blast occurred Monday afternoon at a Green Plains ethanol plant in Wood River, about 160 miles west of Omaha, around 2:45 p.m., according to KSNB. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal Agency said there was no fire at the plant when they arrived and found a liquid holding tank damaged. Ethanol is a highly flammable fuel additive.
One employee was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another one the workers was transported to a hospital in Omaha in critical condition and remained hospitalized on Tuesday. Three of the workers were treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital and released shortly thereafter.
The Nebraska Fire Marshal’s office described the explosion as an accident caused during routine operations at the plant while workers were performing maintenance on the tank. They said it was not related to a fire that occurred at the plant last week.
The incident came two months after an industrial explosion at a metal factory in Ohio killed one and injured more than 10 others.
The names and ages of the victims were not made available.
“We send our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of our employee,” a Green Plains spokesperson said in a statement. “We are cooperating with the authorities and will be conducting a full investigation.”
A number of train derailments in several regions of the country have also drawn increased scrutiny of infrastructure and transportation regulations in the U.S.
With News Wire Services
