Updated: Feb. 23, 2026
COFIELD, N.C. — One worker has died and three others were injured following a massive explosion at a Perdue feed mill in Hertford County early Saturday morning, county officials confirmed Sunday evening.
Authorities say the explosion occurred around 2:15 a.m. Saturday at the Perdue Farms feed mill facility in Cofield, North Carolina.
What Happened
• A powerful explosion tore through the Perdue feed mill around 2:15 a.m. Saturday.
• Four workers were inside the facility at the time.
• Three workers were injured.
• One worker was initially reported missing.
• Late Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed the missing worker was found deceased.
According to Hertford County Government spokesman Christian Davies, the overnight search was complicated due to structural damage and ongoing fire suppression efforts.
“This was an incredibly difficult and emotionally taxing operation for everyone involved,” Davies said in a news release.
Condition of the Injured Workers
Officials provided the following updates:
• One worker was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and later released.
• Another worker was airlifted to a regional medical facility with serious injuries.
• A third worker was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.
The deceased worker 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 cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
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