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Two dead, ten hospitalised in Pennsylvania steel plant explosions

US Steel and Allegheny County Police reported two people were found dead
US Steel and Allegheny County Police reported two people were found dead

Two workers have died and ten were wounded after blasts at a steel plant in the US state of Pennsylvania, officials said.

"Multiple explosions occurred today [Monday] at US Steel Clairton Coke Works," the state's Governor Josh Shapiro said in a post on X, naming a plant located around 25km outside Pittsburgh.

US Steel and Allegheny County Police reported two people were found dead, with the second fatality requiring "an extensive search and rescue effort" to locate the body.

One injured person, who had previously been reported missing, was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said, adding that "nine (other) people were transported to area hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries".

US Steel said the incident happened at around 3pm Irish time yesterday and that emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.

"During times like this, US Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers, and support to everyone affected," David Burritt, CEO of the company, said in a statement.

Some US media outlets had reported that people were trapped under the rubble of the explosion.

The Clairton Coke Works is the largest coking factory in the United States - a facility where coal is processed to produce coke, a key fuel in steelmaking.