Drone captures dust cloud sweeping over Little Village after smokestack demolition

This video from a drone captures a possibly toxic dust cloud sweeping over Little Village after the demolition of a century-old smokestack at the old Crawford Coal Plant on Saturday morning. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot has asked for a full report of what happened and ordered that “No additional work will happen at this site until we have a full account.”

As you can see in the from Alejandro Reyes and as the photo below shows, Little Village was covered in possibly toxic dust resulting from the century-old smokestack demolition.

Dust cloud sweeps over Little Village, drone video shows

After the smokestack collapses an enormous dust cloud sweeps over a large residential area in Little Village. Chicago Mayor Lightfoot says she's “investigating” health concerns after complaints in Little Village and the city of Chicago will be providing masks to everyone in the immediate area who were affected by the smokestack dust cloud.

Neighborhood residents are angered saying that the implosion should never have been allowed, especially amid the pandemic that causes respiratory damage.

Local photographer, Maclovio watched the demolition unfold and took the following photos as the dust cloud swept over Little Village.

Just after 8 a.m. “there was a loud boom and it toppled down,” Maclovio said, according to Block Club Chicago. Adding that shortly after, “a massive dust cloud” extended “at least six blocks from the site.”

“When it was first coming, you couldn't see in front of you,” the 28-year-old photographer continued. “I was caught in it. I wasn't prepared for it so I made a makeshift mask. … My lungs started hurting, I'm not going to lie.”

The Department of Public Health will be tasked to sample and monitor the air quality in the area to make sure it doesn't contain toxic elements such as asbestos.

Hilco Redevelopment Partners, the company responsible for the smokestack demolition has been ordered to clean up the neighborhood dust because sweeping yesterday “wasn't good enough.”

Drone Captures Dust Cloud Sweeping Over Little Village

Julia Sznewajs, a Hilco spokeswoman,  said abatement testing did not show any presence of asbestos or lead in the smokestack. However, she was unable to produce these testing reports and deferred questions to the city.

The drone video captured by Alejandro Reyes provides a clear view of the area that has been affected and will prove to be helpful for local residents to substantiate their health concerns. #dronesforgood

Drone Captures Dust Cloud Sweeping Over Little Village After Smokestack Demolition 1

Video credit: Alejandro Reyes

Photo credit: Maclovio

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Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Founder of DroneXL.co, where he covers all drone-related news, DJI rumors and writes drone reviews, and EVXL.co, for all news related to electric vehicles. He is also a co-host of the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and other podcast platforms. Haye can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

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One comment

  1. Thank you for covering this. My neighbors were given notice over the evening news at 8pm the night before. No effort was made to alert families directly. Everyone in under a stay-at-home order anyway. This neighborhood historically has an increased level of respiratory and immune deficient illnesses attributed to the proximity of the closed coal burning plant

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