Videos, photos show massive explosion that injured employees at ADM plant

Several employees were injured after a huge explosion and fire that erupted at the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) complex in Decatur, Illinois, on Sunday night, a spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek.

Videos and photos shared on social media show the massive blast that occurred at the East Plant within ADM’s processing complex in Decatur at roughly 7:11 p.m. local time, an ADM spokesperson has confirmed in an email to Newsweek on Sunday night.

“Several employees were injured and transported to the local hospital for treatment,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts are with our colleagues. We do not have a confirmed cause at this time.”

Dane Lisser, an ADM spokesperson, said the company could provide not additional details at the time of publication, including the number of people injured or their conditions.

ADM staff called the Decatur Fire Department (DFD), which remained on the scene as of 8:30 p.m. for the two-alarm fire, ADM said in the statement.

Newsweek reached out via email and Facebook on Sunday to the DFD for an update and comment.

ADM, on its website, describes the company as a “global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company.” The food processing company, which garnered $64 billion in net sales in 2020, has hundreds of plants across the world, according to the website. It was unclear at the time of publication how many employees were inside the Decatur plant at the time of the blast.

Illinois Representative Mary Miller shared a video of the explosion on X, formerly Twitter, where she said she is monitoring the situation.

The footage of the blast was captured by Central Illinois news station WCIA’s weather camera in Decatur. Thick smoke can be seen filling the air over the tops of buildings.

“I am monitoring the situation at the ADM plant in Decatur,” Miller posted. “Please pray for the employees and first responders at the scene of this fire.”

https://twitter.com/RepMaryMiller/status/1701057836451557624

Shaun Tyson shared photos on X of the blaze and dense smoke at the plant.

https://twitter.com/ShaunPTyson/status/1701063094502404346

Caryn Eisert, a reporter for local station WAND, shared an image of the blast on X.

https://twitter.com/CarynEisert/status/1701058408621773125

This is a breaking news story and