An explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant on Monday has resulted in one confirmed death, at least ten injuries, and one person still unaccounted for, according to officials. Emergency crews responded to the scene, located approximately 20 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, to conduct search-and-rescue operations.
The incident occurred just before 11 a.m. local time, with multiple reports of a fire and secondary explosions. The blast, which local residents described as sounding “like thunder,” shook homes in the surrounding community. Allegheny County Emergency Services declared a “mass casualty incident” to mobilize a broad response from 14 fire departments and 20 EMS services. The Allegheny County Health Department has also been on-site, monitoring air quality, and initially advised residents within a one-mile radius to stay indoors. This advisory was later lifted.
U.S. Steel confirmed the incident occurred at coke oven batteries 13 and 14. Scott Buckiso, the company’s executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer, stated at a press conference that the involved batteries have been shut down, while the rest of the plant remains operational and stable. He said the cause of the explosion is under investigation. The victim who died has been identified by his family as Timothy Quinn, a 39-year-old worker. Several patients were transported to area hospitals, including UPMC Mercy, the region’s only level one trauma and burn center.
The Clairton plant, North America’s largest coking operation, has a history of safety and pollution concerns. In 2019, U.S. Steel settled a lawsuit over emissions, agreeing to invest $6.5 million to reduce soot and odors. More recently, in February of this year, a battery malfunction at the plant caused a smaller explosion that resulted in minor injuries to two workers. The plant, which is a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., employs roughly 1,400 people.