MARTINTON, IL – No injuries were reported after a concrete grain silo collapsed Wednesday afternoon in the small Iroquois County community of Martinton, according to the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).
The collapse occurred at the Donovan Farmers Co-Op Elevator on the east side of town. According to the agency, an ambulance crew responding to an unrelated call around 10:30 a.m. noticed cracks and bulging concrete on the north side of the silo, which was built in 1972 and filled with about 30,000 bushels of soybeans.
Recognizing the potential danger, responders alerted Martinton Fire Chief Jeff Meyer, who quickly ordered evacuations of nearby workers. By 12:52 p.m., the silo began to crumble, sending concrete and rebar crashing down onto nearby power lines and poles. The falling debris caused power outages across the village.
“Thanks to the observant eye of the ambulance personnel at the original call, we were able to evacuate and secure the area around the silo,” Chief Meyer said. “This action certainly prevented what may have been life-threatening injuries or even fatalities.”
As of 9 p.m. Wednesday, cleanup crews continued to remove spilled grain and debris, while Ameren utility workers worked to restore power.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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