Blast at meat plant kills 2; 1 still missing

GARNER, N.C. (AP) — A blast at a Slim Jim meat-products plant in North Carolina on Tuesday killed two workers whose bodies were found in the rubble of the building that is missing part of its roof.

The explosion critically burned four people, and one worker was still unaccounted for Tuesday evening. More than 40 others were taken to hospitals, including three firefighters who needed medical attention after inhaling ammonia gases that left a distinct scent around the sprawling ConAgra Foods Inc. plant just south of Raleigh.

The explosion left gaping holes in the roof. An exterior wall collapsed, smashing cars parked next to the 500,000-square-foot building.

Some of the more than 300 workers on duty described chaos after the explosion. Authorities could not say exactly where in the plant the blast happened or what caused it.

“I was getting ready to pick up a piece of meat off the line and I felt it — the percussion. And you could feel it in my chest, and my ears popped,” said worker Chris Woods. “One of the guys I was working with got blown back — his hat flew backwards.”

Crews searched for three missing workers through the day. Earlier, authorities said crews had spotted one person but weren’t sure if the worker was alive. One of the bodies found was of that person.

Wake County Emergency Medical Services district chief Jeffrey Hammerstein couldn’t explain how the second body was discovered. He also said one of the dead was a woman.

Searchers were in part relying on cameras and listening equipment. They were also concerned because the building was unstable, and the bodies were not immediately removed.

Frank McLaurin, a battalion chief with North Carolina Task Force 8 Urban Search-and-Rescue, said search teams crawling through spaces no higher than 30 inches would work until the last person was found. He said ammonia fumes were at acceptable levels but the area was still hazardous.

Janelle Lynch, who has worked at the plant for eight years, said she saw flames and ran. She planned to leave through the cutting department, but the roof started to collapse, so she went in the other direction and escaped through a warehouse.

ConAgra spokesman Dave Jackson said someone called the plant over the weekend and threatened to start a fire. He said company officials don’t believe the threat was connected to the explosion, but Garner Police Sgt. Joe Binns would not say whether police think there is a link.