Explosion and fire injures 8 workers at Illinois soybean processing plant

DECATUR, Ill. (AP) — An explosion and fire at an soybean processing facility in Illinois has injured eight employees and sent a tower of smoke into the air. The Archer Daniels Midland company says the explosion occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday at the east plant in a processing complex in Decatur. The Decatur Fire Department said Monday morning that six workers were taken from the scene by ambulance with the “extent of injuries unknown.” The agricultural company says five employees remained in hospitalized receiving treatment for their injuries. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. Decatur is about 150 miles southwest of Chicago, where ADM is headquartered.