Explosion, Fire at IA Soybean Plant Leaves Workers Injured

Dec. 9, 2022
Firefighters used foam to help quell the flames at the Marengo biodiesel plant.

More than a dozen people were injured Thursday in an explosion at a soybean processing plant in Marengo.

Hospital personnel said they treated about 15 people with minor to moderate burns.

There were 30 people in the plant when the blast occurred, and all were accounted for, according to KCCI.

"This was a hazmat situation. This is a biofuel plant, from my understanding. With that, we look at what is possibly in there, we try and figure out what chemicals are there. Look at the hazmat guide and say, ‘OK we want to evacuate these people,'" Iowa State Trooper Bob Conrad told reporters. 

Firefighters were using foam to quell the flames.