Pittsburgh Action News 4 has confirmed at least one person has died after multiple explosions occurred at the U.S. Clairton Coke Works plant in Pennsylvania.
LATEST CONFIRMED INFORMATION
In addition to the person who has died, dozens of others have been injured, with at least two unaccounted for after the blasts.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a post on X that multiple explosions occurred at the plant Monday, saying the injured employees have been taken to local area hospitals for treatment.
“Multiple explosions occurred today at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, PA,” Shapiro said in the post. “Injured employees have now been transported to local hospitals to receive care, and search-and-rescue efforts remain active at the plant.”
He continued, saying in part: “If you’re in the area, continue to follow the instructions of local authorities.”
Video from Sky 4, Pittsburgh’s only news helicopter, captured fire crews battling flames as ambulances rushed to the scene.
Dispatchers confirmed multiple people have been injured. The extent of those injuries is unknown.
A timelapse from the Breathe Project captured the moment the explosion happened and the black smoke that followed.
ALLEGHENY HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOTICE:
The Allegheny County Health Department is advising residents who live within a mile of the plant to stay inside, close all windows and doors, set HVAC systems to recirculate, and avoid activities that draw outside air out of an abundance of caution.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said hours following the explosions that his administration is in touch with local officials in the area as they respond.
My Administration is in touch with local officials in Clairton, PA as they respond to an explosion at US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant this morning. @PEMAHQ and @PAStatePolice are in touch with first responders and have offered all assistance.
The scene is still active, and…
Lt. Governor Austin Davis, who grew up in McKeesport, also released a statement: “The Commonwealth is providing whatever resources and manpower are needed to help with emergency response. Please stay away from the area at this time to allow emergency crews to do their job and follow all future guidance from officials for those that live nearby.”
Reporter Yazmin Rodriguez spoke with Zachary Buday, who was working close to the scene during the explosion.
“Felt like thunder. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, then shook the building. Then we saw the smoke coming up from the steel mill,” Buday said.
Buday says he didn’t see fire, but spotted the black smoke that was rising from the area.
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.
VIDEO FROM SKY 4
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has crews on the scene and are working to get the latest updates.
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