ATCHISON, Kan., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Three men were trapped inside an Atchison, Kan., grain elevator that exploded and killed three others during the weekend, officials said.
Hopes had dimmed that the trapped men were alive, rescuers said.
Recovery efforts for the them were called off Sunday after the structure was determined to be too unstable for search crews to enter, the Atchison (Kan.) Globe reported.
Rescuers were expected to resume their search Monday.
Authorities identified three men who were killed as Chad Roberts, 20, Ryan Federinko, 21, and John Burke, 24. They were all Bartlett Grain Co. employees.
State grain inspector Travis Keil, 34, of Topeka, Kan., Curtis Fields of Atchison and a third man -- identified as a 43-year-old grain inspector -- were still inside Sunday night, officials told the newspaper.
The explosion was felt for miles around, officials said.
Atchison City Manager Trey Cocking said a grain fire that ignited Saturday night could continue to smolder for up to 30 days.
Employees were loading a rail car when the explosion occurred.
