An explosion occurring at an animal food processing plant, International Nutrition, left the building structurally damaged and unstable with an unidentified number of deaths, according to Interim Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger, the Associated Press reported.
There were 38 people inside the plant when the explosion occurred on Monday morning, according to the AP.
Authorities have no definite number of how many workers got out of the building without being hurt, but 10 people were taken to the hospital, four of which are in critical condition, the AP reported.
The scene is visible from Interstate 80 which intersects Omaha and is located in an industrial area away from houses and buildings, according to the AP. The roof of the building is damaged and the building has been announced as unstable by authorities.
Kanger announced rescue efforts were stopping for the day, but a slower recovery effort will begin to find and remove victims from the collapsing building, according to the AP. He added rescue teams were being extremely careful because the plant is still unstable.
An investigation is underway to determine what caused the explosion but Kanger reported the plant contained no hazardous materials, the AP reported.
One of the plant workers on the first floor of the building managed to get out shortly after the blast happened by using his cellphone light as a guide to get out of the building, which went completely dark after the explosion, according to the AP.
"I was a production line worker, although I don't know if I want to be that anymore," said Nate Lewis who is 21-years-old and has worked at the plant for only four months, according to the AP.
The wife of plant worker Jamar White received a call from her husband right after the explosion, the AP reported.
"I could hear the panic in his voice," Sarah White told the AP, adding "But he said he was OK."
Sarah said her husband had been outside by the loading trucks when he heard the explosions go off inside the building, according to the AP. "That's where he works every day. That could have been him," she added.
Jamar said he was outside when he heard a loud crack and saw the back wall of the plant falling to the ground, the AP reported.
"I ran at least 150 feet, I ran far enough to make sure nothing else would keep falling," he told the AP, adding that after coming back towards the building he could hear co-workers screaming for help inside.
