Nickel-processing plant explosion kills 12, injures 39

A Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia has been destroyed by explosion on Sunday, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 39 others, an official from the park said.

It was reported by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel, which is the owner of a plant within Morowali Industrial Park, located in Central Sulawesi province, that an accident occurred around 5:30am at the factory owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel.

He stated that the current number of victims is 51. It is estimated that 12 people have died in the incident. It is also estimated that 39 people have suffered minor and serious injuries. They are being treated for them at the moment.

An additional five foreign workers as well as seven Indonesians were killed in the incident, according to the statement. The five foreign workers were all Chinese citizens, Kurniawan told AFP shortly after the meeting.

A local official cited an initial investigation as a source of information regarding the explosion, which occurred when a flammable liquid ignited during repair work on a furnace, causing explosions in nearby oxygen tanks due to the subsequent blast caused by the explosion.

On Sunday morning, however, the statement indicated that the fire had been successfully extinguished.

In a statement released to AFP, the company that runs the industrial park indicated it was “deeply saddened” by the accident, adding the bodies of several identified victims had been flown home from the disaster site.

As one of the country’s most important mineral-rich hubs, the island is one of the world’s largest producers of nickel, which can be used in the production of electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel.

The growing investments made by Beijing have also sparked unrest at its facilities due to the poor working conditions that exist.

The nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park was also the site of a riot in January, which resulted in the death of two workers, including a Chinese national, after protests over safety conditions and pay broke out during a protest against safety hazards.

That news provided by timenews.