An overnight fire at a Tyson Foods plant in southwest Georgia killed one woman and hospitalized two other people with injuries, state officials said Friday.
Mitchell County Coroner Robby Willis told The Associated Press that a wall collapsed on the cab of an 18-wheeler parked outside the plant, killing the truck driver’s wife who was sleeping inside. die. He identified the victim as Bajarma Batozhapov, 61, of Las Vegas.
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, said Friday that a boiler exploded. Tyson Foods said it is working with local authorities to determine the cause of the fire. The fire burned for about three hours, officials said.
Willis said heavy equipment was needed to remove the debris from the truck, and the woman’s body was not found until about 2 p.m. Friday. He said the woman’s husband was not in the truck and was not injured. Willis declined to reveal the woman’s cause of death and said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation would conduct an autopsy on Monday.
“We extend our deepest condolences to their family and friends during this difficult time. 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 incident.” It was on fire,” Tyson said in a statement.
The Tyson Foods logo can be seen on a truck parked at a food warehouse. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Georgia Fire Department spokesman Bryce Rosen confirmed the deaths and injuries but said he could not reveal more Friday afternoon because the investigation was ongoing.
The Camilla plant employs approximately 5,000 people and is the largest employer in Mitchell County. Tyson Foods acquired Keystone Foods in 2018 for $2.16 billion. The union said the plant mainly produces chicken nuggets and tenders for restaurants.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy here and Tyson Foods is a big part of that,” Camilla Mayor Kelvin Owens said.
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Owens said Tyson is more than just an employer in the city.
“Not only are they important to the economy, but they are important to us as humans,” Owens said. “We consider them family and we will do everything we can to support them during this time.”
