3 Dead In Waukegan Explosion, 1 Worker Still Missing

WAUKEGAN, IL — Three people are confirmed dead after an explosion at a Waukegan silicone plant, and the search was scheduled to resume Monday morning for one person who is still missing, according to news reports and local authorities. The "ground shaking" blast, felt throughout Lake County, happened late Friday night at AB Specialty Silicones.

Waukegan Fire Marshal Steven Lenzi told reporters at a Saturday news conference that authorities received a call for an explosion in the area around 9:30 p.m. First arriving firefighters were met with heavy fire conditions. Lenzi said firefighters immediately began treating victims and began to extinguish the fire.

Search teams recovered a third body from the rubble on Sunday, bringing the death toll to three, according to ABC-7 Chicago.

A representative for AB Silicones told ABC that the three men who were killed were actively mixing product at the time of the explosion. Workers who escaped told rescuers that it was the three victims who alerted others that something was wrong.

While silicone is a non-hazardous substance and most of the mixing process is not dangerous, Lenzi told ABC that something went "horrifically wrong" on Friday. Authorities have not said what caused the explosion.

Lenzi said nine people were at the AB Specialty Silicones Plant at the time of the explosion. Of those, six were accounted for and three were missing. Four people were hospitalized and two others declined or did not need medical attention.

The search for the two people who remain missing has been suspended due to concerns about the stability of the structure, Lenzi said.

Crews were quickly overwhelmed after the blast, and other neighboring departments had to be brought to help control the fire. Hazmat technicians also had to be brought in and officials with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency were also at the scene.

Crews were working to make sure any runoff plant does not go into nearby rivers. Some nearby businesses remained closed on Monday in the aftermath of the blast.

Lenzi said he has worked with the company and they have always been receptive to any safety concerns and there have never been any issues.

The plant is located at 3790 Sunset Avenue near the Gurnee border. At least five other buildings in the area were also damaged and early estimates say the damage will be in excess of $1 million. Lenzi said they have not received reports of any homes that sustained damage.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.