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Titan America worker 'entombed' in cement silo
Aug, 31 2012
(Australia) -- A US worker is feared to have been entombed in a massive silo of dry cement after the roof caved in while he was standing on it and it quickly filled with water from Hurricane Isaac.
Pierre Mezidor, a 58-year-old Haitian father of two, was reportedly measuring the level of dry cement inside the 61-metre-high silo at Titan America's Pennsuco cement plant in Medley, Florida, when the roof suddenly collapsed on August 17.
The silo, which was reportedly 70 percent full of concrete powder, then began filling with rainwater from the approaching Hurricane Isaac, turning it not into a wet concrete mixture but instead a gooey mush.
Officials and co-workers are still searching for Mr Mezidor's body but cameras and listening devices lowered into the silo recorded no signs of life.
Family and friends have been visiting Mr Mezidor's Florida home to lend support to his wife, step-daughter and 16-year-old son.
Family friend Yolaine Casimier told Local 10 News Mr Mezidor's family had lost hope, saying "His son is like collapsing inside."
"From what we see of the situation he's not going to come out alive," he said. Mr Mezidor had been working at the plant for 19 years.
Titan America told The Miami Herald company officials "deeply regretted” the incident and said that employee safety was their primary concern.
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