An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh on Monday injured dozens of people and left others trapped under debris, according to officials. Emergency crews remain on the scene working to rescue those caught in the blast.
Abigail Gardner, communications director for Allegheny County, said there are no confirmed fatalities at the Clairton Coke Works. The explosion sent thick black smoke rising into the midday sky over the Monongahela Valley, a region tied to Pennsylvania’s steel industry for over a century.
Allegheny County Emergency Services reported that a fire broke out at the plant around 10:51 a.m. and that five people have been transported for medical care. Officials did not release additional information about their conditions, calling it an “active scene.”
The facility, located along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is the largest coking operation in North America and one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania, employing several thousand workers.
Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat and former mayor of nearby Braddock, described the explosion as “absolutely tragic” and pledged his support for those affected. “I grieve for these families,” Fetterman said. “I stand with the steelworkers.”
In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel finalized a “historic partnership,” giving the U.S. government a say in certain company matters. The agreement came a year and a half after Nippon Steel’s initial $15 billion buyout proposal, which faced delays due to national security issues and political concerns in the key swing state.
The Clairton facility previously experienced a fire in February when a battery problem caused a “buildup of combustible material” that ignited, producing a loud “boom,” according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Two workers sustained eye injuries and were treated at a local hospital.
The plant has also faced pollution-related legal challenges. In 2019, it settled a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million, agreeing to spend $6.5 million on measures to reduce soot emissions and odors. Other lawsuits have accused U.S. Steel of violating clean air laws after a 2018 fire damaged sulfur pollution control systems.
Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi expressed sympathy for those impacted by the latest incident. “The mill is such a big part of Clairton,” he said. “It’s just a sad day for Clairton.”
Marc Levy reported from Harrisburg, Michael Casey from Boston, and Patrick Whittle from Portland, Maine. AP reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed.
