A woman was killed and two other people were taken to hospital from their injuries after an overnight fire at a Tyson Foods factory in Southwest GeorgiaState officials said Friday.
A wall fell on the cab of an 18-wheeler truck parked outside the plant, killing the wife of the truck driver who was sleeping inside, Mitchell County Coroner Robbie Willis told The Associated Press. The victim was identified as Bagarma Batuzapov, 61, of Las Vegas.
An explosion at a Louisville plant kills two people and injures several others, the company confirms
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, said on Friday that a boiler had exploded. Tyson said it is working with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire. Officials said the fire had been burning for about three hours.
Heavy equipment was needed to remove debris from the truck, and Willis said the woman's body was not recovered until about 2 p.m. Friday. He added that the woman's husband was not in the truck and was not injured. Willis declined to say what caused the woman's death and said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would conduct an autopsy on Monday.
“We extend our deepest condolences to their families and friends during this difficult time. At this time, we are still gathering 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 accident.” “Fire,” Tyson said in a statement.
The Tyson Foods logo appears on a truck parked in a food warehouse. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Bryce Rawson, a spokesman for the Georgia State Fire Marshal's Office, confirmed the death and injury, but said he could not share anything else Friday afternoon because the investigation is ongoing.
The plant in Camilla, with a population of about 5,000 people, is the largest employer in Mitchell County. Tyson acquired it in 2018 as part of its $2.16 billion purchase of Keystone Foods. The union said the factory primarily produces Chicken nuggets And chicken strips for restaurants.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy here And Tyson This is a big part of it,” Camilla Mayor Kelvin Owens said.
Owens said Tyson is more than just a business owner in the city.
“It's not just important for the economy, it's important for us as people,” Owens said. “We consider them family and will do everything we can to support them during this time.”
