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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Explosion at U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves dozens hurt and people trapped under rubble
CLAIRTON, Pa. — An explosion Monday at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh has left dozens injured or trapped under the rubble, with emergency workers on site trying to rescue them, officials said. There are no confirmed fatalities at the Clairton Coke Works, said Abigail Gardner, director of communications for Allegheny County. The explosion sent black smoke spiralling into the midday sky in the Monongahela Valley, a region synonymous with the state for more than a century. The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. and that it has transported five people. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an 'active scene.' The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who formerly served as the mayor of nearby Braddock, called the explosion 'absolutely tragic' and vowed to support steelworkers in the aftermath. 'I grieve for these families,' Fetterman said. 'I stand with the steelworkers.' In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a 'historic partnership,' a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a 'buildup of combustible material' that ignited, causing an audible 'boom,' the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a 2018 fire damaged the facility's sulfur pollution controls. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of the explosion. 'The mill is such a big part of Clairton,' he said. 'It's just a sad day for Clairton.' Levy, Casey and Whittle write for the Associated Press. Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Casey reported from Boston and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. AP reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, N.H., and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed to this report.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
One dead in Pittsburgh factory explosion as workers trapped under rubble
A major rescue mission is underway at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which exploded and left several people injured and trapped under rubble One person has died, several people have been left injured and others are trapped under debris following a huge explosion at a steel plant in the US, with emergency services scrambling to the scene. The Clairton Coke Works plant in near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been engulfed in heavy smoke as the major rescue operation continues. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major US Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers, reports the Mirror. The explosion has left dozens wounded and people trapped under rubble. Emergency workers are currently on site trying to rescue them, officials say. The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51am local time, and that it has transported five people. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an 'active scene.' The plant is considered the largest coking operation in North America with several thousand employees. Senator John Fetterman has urged people in Pennsylvania to stay away from the site of the explosion. "For those in the area, please listen to local officials and avoid the area," he wrote on X. "Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million (£7.3m). Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million (£5.6m) to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility, on the Monongahela River about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Pittsburgh. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facility's sulfur pollution controls.
CNN
a day ago
- Health
- CNN
Live updates: Explosion at US Steel Clairton Coke Works
Update: Date: 2 min ago Title: Allegheny County health officials advise nearby residents to stay indoors Content: Officials from the Allegheny County Health Department are advising residents within one mile of the explosion at the Clairton Coke Works to remain indoors and keep their windows closed. 'Out of an abundance of caution, residents within one mile of the plant are advised to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, set HVAC systems to recirculate, and avoid activities that draw in outside air, such as using exhaust fans,' a statement from the department says. 'ACHD Air Quality monitors have not detected levels of PM2.5 and So2 above federal standards. We will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.' The department is 'actively monitoring the explosion … in coordination with emergency responders,' the statement says. Update: Date: 4 min ago Title: Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. urges residents to stay clear from area Content: Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis urged residents to stay away from the area right now to allow emergency crews to work through in the aftermath of an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works Monday morning. 'The Mon Valley is my home, and I know people that work at the Clairton Coke Works,' Davis wrote on X. 'Blayre and I are praying for the workers and their families, and I've been in contact with local leaders and the Steelworkers. The Commonwealth is providing whatever resources and manpower are needed to help with emergency response.' Update: Date: 10 min ago Title: Sen. John Fetterman says he grieves for families of steelworkers Content: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said his thoughts are with the families of steelworkers at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works facility where an explosion has reportedly injured dozens and trapped people beneath rubble. 'I grieve for these families, and again, I'm proud to stand with the steelworkers,' Fetterman told local reporters near the scene, soon after he arrived. 'Without a doubt, this is tragic, what's happened,' Fetterman said, adding he does not know the extent of the damage to the facility. 'It's just heartbreaking,' he added. Update: Date: 15 min ago Title: Clairton Coke Works' recent history of incidents, concerns and lawsuits Content: In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a 'buildup of combustible material' that ignited, causing an audible 'boom,' the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility, on the Monongahela River about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facility's sulfur pollution controls. Update: Date: 21 min ago Title: 2 being treated at UPMC Mercy Hospital, spokesperson says Content: Two people are receiving treatment at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, a spokesperson tells CNN. 'We are treating two patients at UPMC Mercy, which is the region's only level one trauma and burn center,' the spokesperson said. Update: Date: 35 min ago Title: Live camera captures moment of explosion at US steel plant Content: Video captured the moment the explosion took place and smoke followed at a US Steel coking plant near Pittsburgh on Monday morning. Around 10:30 a.m. a live camera captured the moment the explosion took place at the Clairton Coke Work facility, followed by a large plume of smoke. Watch the moment here: The moment was captured on a live camera that is streamed from BreatheProject, a group that advocates for improvements to air quality in the Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania area. The 'Breathe Cam' rolls 24 hours a day and is set on the Clairton plant, according to the Breathe Project. Video credit: CMU CREATE Lab/Breathe Project Update: Date: 28 min ago Title: The scene is still active, Pennsylvania governor says Content: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration is in touch with local officials in Clairton. 'The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities, ' Shapiro wrote on X. 'Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community.' Update: Date: 5 min ago Title: Video shows grey smoke after explosion Content: Amy Sowers was sitting on her porch when an explosion rocked the nearby industrial plant. Sowers lives less than a quarter mile from the US Steel Clairton Coke Works, she said. 'My house shook very hard,' Sowers, 49, who has lived most of her life in Clairton, said. 'We are all safe but very scared to go outside because of what's being released into the air right now,' she added. Videos taken by Sowers shortly after the explosion show plumes of gray smoke rising off the facility. She says she heard the explosion at around 10:40 a.m. 'The first responders are still coming in and there are helicopters flying around,' she said. Update: Date: 29 min ago Title: What is Clairton Coke Works? Content: Clairton Coke Works is part of the US Steel manufacturing complex in Western Pennsylvania and is thought to be the largest coking facility in North America. The plant processes raw coal into coke, a primary component in steelmaking, by heating the coal in an oxygen-free environment to remove impurities. The massive, 392-acre facility sits along the banks of the Monongahela River, in Clairton, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. In June, Japan's Nippon Steel finalized its deal to buy 100% of US Steel, which was once America's largest company. Update: Date: 31 min ago Title: People are trapped beneath rubble, county spokesperson says Content: Authorities are conducting a rescue operation for people trapped beneath rubble following reports of an explosion Monday at the Clairton Coke Works, a spokesperson for Allegheny County confirmed. 'There is rescue operation underway for people trapped under the rubble,' Allegheny County Communications Director Abigail Gardner said. 'The Health Department is on site monitoring air quality. We will release more information when we can.' Update: Date: 26 min ago Title: Deli's doors flew open from explosion, employee says Content: Deanna Forkey, an employee at a deli near Clairton Coke Works, describes hearing a loud explosion that caused the deli's doors to fly open. There is heavy black smoke in the area, Forkey told CNN, but the deli is still serving customers and making deliveries. Foot traffic, however, has dropped significantly due to road closures, she said. One customer came in visibly nervous and concerned, mentioning they have a friend who works at the plant.
