Silo Collapse Traps 13 Calves in Massachusetts

A silo containing large amounts of grain collapsed onto one of the main barns at Cherry Hill Farm in Lunenburg, Mass., Sunday morning, trapping 13 calves and killing one cow.

The owner and his daughter were inside the barn as the silo began to collapse, according to the Sentinel and Enterprise. However, the two were able to move some of the animals out before the silo crashed, the newspaper reports.

After the silo had collapsed, police and firefighters arrived at the scene, but were not allowed in the barn due to the instability of the building. A specialized Tech Rescue Team was notified of the incident and had to use structural collapse equipment to make sure the structure was safe to enter before the 13 calves could be rescued.

“No injuries were reported, however one cow was struck by debris and was euthanized by employees prior to our arrival,” said the Lunenburg Police Department in a Facebook post.

While what caused the silo to collapse is still unknown, significant damage was done to the facility that contained the herd’s calves. According to a press release, the owners are working to find temporary locations to house some of these animals as the barn is unusable at this point.

A structural investigation is scheduled to take place later this week.