Explosion at US Steel Clairton Plant Kills Two
Two dead, ten injured in Clairton explosion.
A catastrophic explosion at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh killed two workers and injured at least ten others on Monday, sending shockwaves through the Mon Valley and leaving the massive facility heavily damaged, officials confirmed. The blast, followed by smaller secondary explosions, occurred around 10:51 am, with one worker rescued from the rubble hours later, only for authorities to later confirm a second fatality.
The explosion’s force rattled nearby communities, with construction worker Zachary Buday describing it to WTAE-TV as feeling “like thunder,” shaking his scaffold and chest. Black smoke billowed into the sky, prompting Allegheny County officials to urge residents to avoid the area as emergency crews, including 14 fire departments and 20 EMS services, swarmed the scene.
Scott Buckiso, US Steel’s chief manufacturing officer, said the plant was stabilized, with two affected coke oven batteries shut down, but the cause remains under investigation. The company, now under Nippon Steel’s ownership, is cooperating with authorities, Buckiso added. CEO David Burritt vowed a thorough probe, emphasizing safety: “We will honor our commitment to get back to work safely.”
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Seven victims were treated at Allegheny Health Network hospitals, with five discharged by afternoon, while UPMC Mercy received three patients. Clairton resident Amy Sowers, 49, felt her home shake less than a mile away and fled after detecting a faint smell, citing recurring safety issues at the plant, which employs about 1,400 workers.
The Clairton Coke Works, North America’s largest coking operation, converts coal into coke for steelmaking, producing a dangerous mix of methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Past incidents, including a 2009 fatal explosion and a 2010 blast injuring 20, have raised safety concerns, alongside pollution lawsuits settled for millions in 2019 and 2024.
Mayor Richard Lattanzi mourned the loss, calling it “a sad day for Clairton,” where the plant is a community cornerstone. The Allegheny County Health Department lifted a shelter-in-place advisory after air quality tests showed no elevated toxin levels, though the plant’s history of environmental violations lingers in residents’ minds.
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