In a bizarre turn of events, a car dealership in Christchurch found itself in a sticky situation when a silo at a neighbouring flour mill collapsed, unleashing a wave of grain that damaged a dozen vehicles on Sunday.
The incident occurred at Champion Flour's Moorhouse Avenue site in Addington. The flour company is currently collaborating with local authorities to pinpoint the cause of the unexpected grain storage collapse.
The aftermath of the incident led to the cordoning off of the affected area on Monday morning, preventing immediate cleanup efforts. Safety concerns took precedence as officials worked diligently to ensure the stability of the surrounding silos before commencing any clearance.
Peter Cullen, spokesperson for the neighbouring Value Cars Warehouse, described the havoc caused by the grain surge. He reported that approximately 12 vehicles, primarily older trade-ins, bore the brunt of the grain deluge near the row of silos.
Cullen confirmed that Champion Flour had been proactive, reaching out promptly and dispatching engineers to assess the site's safety before initiating the debris clearance process.
The collapsed silo mirrored the height of the other five silos within the group, adding an extra layer of mystery to the incident. Cullen speculated that the damaged silo had been on the brink of full capacity when the collapse occurred.
The emergency response was swift, with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) receiving the alert about the collapsed silo at 7:35 pm on Sunday. FENZ took precautionary measures by bringing in an Urban Search and Rescue engineer to inspect the integrity of the remaining silos. This assessment was crucial to ensure the safety of firefighters at the scene. Once deemed secure, control of the site was returned to the mill's management.
As the cleanup efforts unfolded, the Christchurch City Council's regulatory compliance team stepped in to investigate the collapse. Determining the cause behind the unexpected event is crucial for preventing future mishaps and ensuring the safety of surrounding areas.
In the aftermath of this unusual incident, Champion Flour is committed to working closely with authorities to unravel the mystery behind the grain storage collapse.
