A quiet summer afternoon in Royal quickly transformed into a crisis situation Tuesday that drew in emergency personnel from across the area.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., an explosion occurred in one of Ag Partners' cement elevators on the north side of Royal. The blast could be heard across town and scattered debris throughout the area immediately surrounding the business.

Royal resident Rich Green was on Main Street at the gas station when the explosion occurred. He said "the whole building shook" and immediately ran outside to investigate the commotion.

"All I could see was this big flame,...