Explosions at US Steel Plant Leave 2 Dead, 10 Injured

Two people were killed and at least 10 people were injured following multiple explosions at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania on Monday. First responders were alerted to the incident just before 11 a.m. at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, which sits south of Pittsburgh along a bend in the Monongahela River. In all, officials said 14 local fire departments and 20 EMS services responded to the scene to assist.

The Clairton plant is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the country, producing more than 4 million tons of coke a year. Coke is a fuel used to melt iron ore, and it's produced by baking coal in coke ovens.

U.S. Steel issued the following statement Monday afternoon following the explosion.

Around 11 a.m. ET on Monday, August 11, an incident occurred at U. S. Steel's Clairton Plant, specifically at coke oven batteries 13 and 14. Emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees and the environment. We are working closely with relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and will provide additional updates as they become available. Nearly 1,300 dedicated men and women work at the Clairton Plant each day, performing their jobs with the utmost safety. During times like this, U. S. Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers, and support to everyone affected.'" 

David Burritt, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Steel, said in a statement, in part, that the company is "committed to providing every possible resource and support during this unimaginably difficult time."

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.