Silo collapses are caused by structural wear and age, inadequate silo design, improper use, weather events, fires and explosions, and a range of other issues. These events not only damage the silo structures and associated equipment, but they can also damage or destroy product and lead to injuries and deaths.

Powder & Bulk Solids editors scoured the internet for some of the most compelling, thought-provoking images of silo collapses to showcase how operations have contended with these unfortunate events. The images record the wrath of silo structural failures across a variety of facility types - from farms to cement plants. 

Massive Corn Spill after Silo Collapse
WHIO-TV on Twitter

10,000 tn of corn spilled out of a silo that collapsed in January 2018 at the Miami Valley Feed & Grain facility in New Carlisle, OH, television news station WHIO reported. Part of a nearby highway was covered during the incident.

Silo Dome Collapse Incident
Unions at LafargeHolcim on Facebook

A silo dome collapsed at a LafargeHolcim facility in India in May 2020. Unions at LafargeHolcim, a Facebook page for unionized workers at the company’s facilities, said in a post that the incident may have been caused by a structural issue.

Destructive Silo Collapse at Cement Plant
Cement Pakistan Company on Facebook

Operations were halted at a Fauji Cement Company plant in Karachi, Pakistan after a silo capable of holding 25,000 tn of material collapsed in May 2018, according to coverage by Pakistan-based English language news website Dawn.com. One line was expected to be down for about half a hear due to the incident.

Collapse During Corn Silo Fire
Pasco County Fire Rescue on Facebook

Here’s an example of a fire-related silo collapse taken by Pasco Fire Rescue during a corn silo fire in Zephyrhills, FL in August 2018. The structure collapsed three hours into the fire and spilled out smoldering corn.

Titan America Concrete Silo Collapse
NBC6 South Florida on Facebook

A 250 ft concrete silo collapsed at a Titan America cement plant in Medley, FL in August 2012, a South Florida-based NBC affiliate reported. One worker was presumed dead after falling 140 ft in the silo.

Deadly Collapse in Pennsylvania
WPVI Philadelphia on Facebook

This image was captured by a Philadelphia-based ABC News affiliate after a cement silo holding dry concrete collapsed at the Riverside Industrial Complex in Bristol Township, PA. A 48-year-old man was presumed dead after he was engulfed by the material during the collapse, according to the news station’s coverage.

Cherry Hill Farm Silo Collapse
Lunenburg Police Department on Facebook

This silo collapsed at a Massachusetts farm in October 2018. While no people were injured during the incident, a cow was hit by debris and had to be euthanized and 13 calves became trapped inside of a barn at the site.

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