Official statements from Tyson Foods, RWDSU, or government agencies

Explosion at Georgia Tyson Poultry Plant Kills Woman Sleeping in Truck, Injures Several

Dec 27, 2024, 11:10 PM

An overnight explosion and fire at a Tyson Foods poultry plant in southwest Georgia killed one person and injured several others, company officials confirmed on Friday. The incident occurred late Thursday night when a wall collapsed onto an 18-wheel truck parked outside the facility, killing a 61-year-old woman who was sleeping inside the cab. She was the wife of a truck driver. Several workers were seriously injured in the blast. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents 1,600 workers at the plant, stated that a boiler had exploded, though the exact cause is still under investigation. "It is too early to tell what happened last night, but there must be a thorough investigation into this incident, and workers must be able to work safely in the facility," the RWDSU said in a statement. Tyson Foods said it is investigating the cause of the fire. Senator Raphael Warnock expressed his condolences and said he is monitoring the situation.