HERTFORD COUNTY, Nc. — The body of a worker who had been missing after an explosion and fire at a Perdue feed mill in Hertford County has been recovered, officials said.
A Hertford County official confirmed the body of the previously unaccounted-for individual was located earlier and will be transported to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for formal identification and determination of the official cause of death.
The explosion occurred around 2:15 a.m. Saturday at the Perdue facility on Perdue Road. Four workers were inside at the time.
Perdue said in a statement posted to its Facebook page that the associate who had been missing was killed.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that the associate who was unaccounted for following Saturday’s explosion at our Cofield, North Carolina facility has died,” the company said. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones. This is an incredibly difficult moment for them and for many across our company, and we are providing support as they grieve this loss.”
Two other workers were injured. One was airlifted to a regional trauma center with serious injuries, and another was treated and released from a hospital. A fourth worker was evaluated at the scene and did not require transport.
Hertford County Public Information Officer Christian Davies said the explosion also triggered a structure fire and severely damaged the building, creating dangerous conditions for crews during the search and recovery effort.
“The biggest thing is wind and the structural integrity of the building is severely impacted, and we don’t want to send our first responders into a dangerous situation that possibly puts their lives at risk,” Davies said.
County officials said the incident required a multi-day response involving fire suppression, extensive search operations, structural stabilization and coordinated recovery efforts under difficult and hazardous conditions. All fire department resources have since cleared the scene.
Due to deteriorating weather conditions, the county does not plan to hold an additional press conference.
Perdue thanked first responders “who acted quickly and professionally” and said the company is cooperating fully with local authorities as the investigation continues.
The cause of the explosion and subsequent fire remains under investigation. The name of the worker has not yet been released pending formal identification and notification procedures.
