An explosion at a steel plant in Western Pennsylvania has left 10 people injured and two people dead, according to the authorities.
The explosion occurred at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant, located south of Pittsburgh. The facility is the largest coking plant in the country.
Matt Brown, the Chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, told reporters at a press conference on Monday afternoon that the explosion happened around 10:50 a.m.
It is unclear what caused the explosion, which US Steel said occurred at coke oven batteries 13 and 14. Scott Buckiso, an executive at US Steel, repeatedly told reporters that an investigation remains underway.
“We don’t have any details right now,” Buckiso said. “We’re just starting that investigation.”
One of the deceased was initially reported missing, but their body was later found during a search and rescue operation, US Steel said in a statement on Monday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
According to the Allegheny County Health Department, people living within a mile of the plant should remain indoors, close windows and doors, and set their HVAC systems to recirculate.
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on X that the scene remained active. “Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community,” he wrote.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman wrote on X that he had traveled to the plant and that there’s an “active search and rescue underway” with “dozens injured” in the blast.
“Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now,” Fetterman wrote in a separate post.
The explosion isn’t the first major incident at the plant. In 2018, a fire on Christmas Eve caused significant damage to the facility, releasing sulfur dioxide for months afterward, and a 2010 explosion injured 20 workers.
US Steel said 1,300 people work at the plant every day.
Aug 12, 2025: This story was updated to reflect the death of a second person, who was previously reported missing, at the plant.
