3 hours ago
A deadly explosion at Clairton's US Steel plant killed one, left two missing and dozens injured. The blast adds to the facility's history of accidents and environmental violations, sparking calls for investigation.
Emergency crew gather after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 12, 2025 01:18 IST
A series of massive explosions at the Clairton US Steel plant, south of Pittsburgh, killed one person and injured dozens on Monday. Emergency workers rushed to the Mon Valley facility as thick black smoke filled the air.
Allegheny County Emergency Services spokesman Kasey Reigner confirmed one fatality and said two people were missing. Several others were injured. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area to allow rescue operations.
Local construction worker Zachary Buday said the blast sounded “like thunder” and shook nearby buildings. Resident Amy Sowers, who lives within a mile, said her house shook, and she could see heavy smoke from her driveway.
The blasts occurred at coke oven batteries 13 and 14 of the plant, where coal is heated to make coke used in steel production. The process releases toxic gases, such as methane and carbon monoxide. The cause is still under investigation.
According to the Associated Press, US Steel, which is now owned by Nippon Steel Corp., said that emergency crews were deployed immediately.
HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS AND POLLUTION ISSUES
For years, the Clairton plant has faced criticism and legal action over its environmental impact.
In 2019, US Steel agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. As part of the deal, the company pledged $6.5 million to cut soot emissions and reduce foul odors from its coke-making facility.
The company has faced other lawsuits, including claims it violated clean air laws after a 2018 fire damaged the plant’s sulfur pollution controls.
In February this year, a malfunction in one of the plant’s batteries caused a buildup of combustible material that ignited with an audible “boom,” according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Two workers received first aid for eye injuries but were not seriously hurt.
Last year, US Steel agreed to spend $19.5 million on equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean air programs to settle a federal lawsuit filed by the Clean Air Council, PennEnvironment and the Allegheny County Health Department.
Environmental groups say the 2018 fire knocked out pollution controls at the company’s Mon Valley plants, but US Steel kept them running anyway. Lawsuits have accused the company of more than 12,000 violations of its air pollution permits.
As reported by the Associated Press, environmental organisations have successfully sued the company numerous times for air quality infractions, and multimillion-dollar payouts have resulted.
Environmental campaigners, such as PennEnvironment executive director David Masur, have called for a full investigation and questioned whether the plant should continue operating.
- Ends
Published By:
Rivanshi Rakhrai
Published On:
Aug 12, 2025
