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One dead, dozens injured in US steel plant explosion

Multiple people have been treated for injuries
Multiple people have been treated for injuries

A search and rescue operation was underway following explosions at a US Steel plant in the state of Pennsylvania that left at least one person dead and dozens wounded, officials said.

"Multiple explosions occurred today at US Steel Clairton Coke Works," the state's governor Josh Shapiro said in a post on X, referencing the steel plant located 25km outside Pittsburgh city.

"Injured employees have now been transported to local hospitals to receive care, and search-and-rescue efforts remain active at the plant," he added.

Allegheny County Police said in a Facebook post that emergency services were on the scene and "at this point, officials can confirm there has been one fatality in connection with this incident."

US Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania posted on X that "dozens" had been wounded.

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

Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi told CBS there had been several injuries, some "maybe critically."

"I'm just so sad about this whole day," he said.

Videos on social media showed firefighters battling the blaze in front of a gutted industrial building, under a thick plume of white smoke.

Located on the Monongahela River, the Clairton Coke Works is the largest coking factory in the United States, producing the coal-based fuel.

US Steel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.