An Omaha animal feed processing plant exploded on Monday, leaving at least two people dead and 10 injured.
Interim Omaha Fire Chief Bernie Kanger said that the International Nutrition plant was currently structurally unsound, which meant that search and rescue efforts were slow, reports The Associated Press.
Nine others working at the plant on Monday were hurt, but did not require medical treatment. There were 38 people working at the time of the explosion. Authorities have not confirmed if the remaining workers were accounted for yet.
The New York Times reports that Kanger sounded more pessimistic about survivors as the day went on. He felt that though only two have been confirmed dead, if there were any more left inside the plant, they would be dead by now.
"The chance of finding any victims that are alive is no longer there," the interim fire chief said. One firefighter required hospitalization.
To continue the search for survivors, parts of the damaged building had to be secured as many are worried about the building coming down as rescue crews look for survivors.
No cause has been announced yet for the explosion, but the plant doesn't house hazardous chemicals.