Horrifying moment Nebraska factory explodes and collapses leaving ‘dad and two daughters’ missing among ‘mangled’ steel

DRAMATIC footage has captured the moment a biofuels plant exploded and collapsed, leaving three people missing.

Flames were seen bursting from one of the factory towers before it was engulfed.

The orange flames raged and plumes of smoke filled the air in eastern Nebraska on Tuesday. 

A dad and his two daughters, ages eight and 12, are feared to be missing, according to the NBC affiliate WOWT-TV.

Drone footage, obtained by the ABC affiliate KETV, shows mangled steel and what’s left of the building.

In the video, fire crews are dousing the building in water and craters can be seen at the top of the tower that collapsed.

Wood pellets and animal bedding are made at the Fremont plant run by Horizon Biofuels.

The blast happened just before noon and fire chiefs rushed to the scene to battle the heavy smoke and flames.

The three people missing were inside the building at the time of the blast.

“We need to get them out of there,”Robby Baker, the stepdad of the oldest child, said.

The girls were reportedly trapped in the plant’s break room.

“I don’t know if it’s made for an implosion like this,” Baker said.

“We’re just asking for prayers.”

Fire crews have been unable to search the building because of the collapse.

“Early on, we tried to get access, but just due to the collapse with the mangled steel, we were unable to get inside,” Todd Bernt, the Fremont fire chief, told reporters.

“We had a lot of structural collapse,” he admitted.

Ten people work at the plant and locals told how they saw “puffs” of smoke after the blast.

Investigators are still probing the cause of the explosion. 

Those who lived one mile from the blast site said they could feel the impact of the explosion, per the CBS affiliate KMTV-TV.

In the hours following the explosion, rumors swirled online that Fremont residents were told not to drink water.

This forced city officials to post updates on social media.

“We have heard there is FALSE information circulating that suggests otherwise,” they said online.

“Rest assured, you can continue to use water without concerns.”