Explosions at U.S. Steel plant leave 2 dead, 10 injured
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Workers outside Clairton Coke Works after an explosion. Photo: Chrissy Suttles/Axios
Explosions at the U.S. Steel facility in Clairton on Monday killed two people and injured 10 others, officials said.
The big picture: Pennsylvania search and rescue crews were sent to Clairton after large explosions around 11am that sent a plume of black smoke into the air at Clairton Coke Works.
The latest: Allegheny County EMS Chief Matthew Brown confirmed at a Monday evening briefing that the death toll had risen to two after crews found the body of a worker who was previously unaccounted for in the blasts.
Situation report: Ten people were injured and taken to local hospitals.
- Brown said five of those were in critical but stable conditions, while five others were treated and released.
- No details were provided on the extent of injuries.
Zoom in: Emergency teams were dispatched immediately to the plant after explosions at coke oven batteries 13 and 14, said U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt in a statement.
- Clairton Coke Works is one of the largest coking factories in the world. It produces coke, or fuel made of coal that is used in steel making.
What they're saying: "Everyone's grim, not surprisingly," said Sen. John Fetterman. "You can't shut the facility down … They still have to work. Obviously, it's very grim there."
- Mayor Richard Lattanzi said it's a tragedy that workers won't be going home to their family tonight.
- "I'm just so sad about this whole day. The mill is such a big part of Clairton ... and everyone that works there, no matter how young or old, they gotta make a living for their family ... they need to go home healthy."
Flashback: The last death at the coke works happened in September 2009, when a maintenance worker died in an explosion.
State of play: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on X that locals should follow the direction of local authorities.
- "Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community," he wrote.
The Allegheny County Health Department at 6:30pm Monday lifted its stay indoors advisory for residents within a mile of the plant.
- Air quality monitors have not detected any air pollution levels above federal standards due to the explosions, and these suggestions were made out of an abundance of caution, said health officials in a statement.
Between the lines: Andrew Burke heard the explosions when he was buying something from the Speedway gas station by the entrance of the plant this morning. He lives less than a mile from the plant and said it was the scariest sound he has heard over the years.
- "It sounded like the plant split in half, it was so loud."
What's next: Officials said the investigation into the cause of the explosions is ongoing.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the death toll has increased from one to two and with more details on those injured in the explosions.