Explosion at Clairton, PA, Steel Plant Leaves One Dead, Two MIssing

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(TNS)

PITTSBURGH — One person is dead and two others are unaccounted for hours after an explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant, authorities said just before 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Allegheny County officials said in a statement that “multiple individuals” were being treated for injuries but “the status of those individuals is not known at this time.”

Police, fire and EMS crews from around the county responded to the plant after initial calls came in about 10:50 a.m., according to authorities. Several people were being treated at hospitals throughout the region.

U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt in a statement Monday afternoon said “our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and the environment.”

He said the company was working closely with authorities to investigate the explosion at the plant, where nearly 1,300 people work.

“During times like this, U.S. Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers and support to everyone affected,” he said.

William Pearce, 37, was inside his house playing video games when he heard the explosion. He was one of several residents nearby who spoke about how startling the sound was and said they’re concerned about the workers’ safety.

“You hear this big boom, but I didn’t think of nothing yet, I thought it was the train cars,” said Pearce, who has lived on North State Street near the plant for less than four months. “When your backyard is the tracks, all you hear are the trains.”

But once he heard sirens, Pearce knew something was wrong. Once he got outside, he said he saw “big black smoke.”

“My first concern was (for) everybody else at the plant,” he said. “Then, are we gonna get evacuated? Are they gonna let us know anything?”

When he found out there was at least one fatality, “My heart sinks, cause you’re close by and that could be one of us.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke to Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato in the aftermath of the deadly explosion.

Shapiro said on social media that all people near the scene should follow the direction of local authorities. He said he and his wife, Lori, are praying for the Clairton community.

Starkle Austin, 71, lives just up the street from where the explosion occurred. She said it was “loud” and “shook” her house.

“It sounded like thunder,” said Austin, who has lived on Halcomb Avenue since 2010. “It scared me.”

Austin said Monday’s explosion will affect the entire community.

“Everybody out here is family,” she said. “I just hope that however it took place, that they correct this because it’s so close to home.”

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., arrived at the scene about 12:40 p.m.

The former Braddock mayor called the situation “absolutely tragic.” He called the situation “a reminder of how dangerous of a job it is to make steel here.”

“I grieve for these families and stand with the steel workers,” he said.

_____

------------