Fatal explosion and fire at Mitsui may affect Resorcinol
ERJ staff report (DS)
Tokyo - Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. said an explosion and fire occurred at production facilities for resorcinol at its Iwakuni-Ohtake Works on Sunday morning. One worker is dead. A further 21 people were injured in the blast, two of them seriously.
An explosion in the resorcinol plant at 02:15 local time on Sunday 22 April led to a fire, which caused a second explosion in a resorcinol tank at 08:05 the same day. Mitsui said the fire was brought under control by 17:15 that evening.
The company said one Mitsui employee is dead and two are seriously injured; a further five employees were injured less seriously. Two employees of co-operating companies were injured as well as 2 further employees of companies operating on the same site. Ten local residents were also injured.
Causes of the accident are under investigation by authorities. Mitsui Chemicals will fully cooperate with authorities in the investigation. The company was unable to say how the disaster will affect supplies of resorcinol and other chemicals.
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Press release from Mitsui
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