Blast: press at the chemical plant AP Photo/Kyodo News
Local press members gather at an entrance to Mitsubishi Materials Corp.'s chemical factory following an explosion in Yokkaichi, central Japan, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2013. The explosion at the factory on Thursday killed scores of workers and injured many othe
Michael Howie9 January 2014
Five people were killed and at least 17 others injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in central Japan today.
Investigators suspect a chemical reaction involving hydrogen caused the blast at metal and chemical company Mitsubishi Materials Corp’s Yokkaichi plant, about 220 miles west of Tokyo.
The blast appeared to have happened when workers were rinsing heat exchange equipment during maintenance at the silicone plant, according to a Mie prefectural police official.
Police said five workers died. Fire department officials said that 17 people were taken to hospitals.
The dead and injured were all believed to be workers at the factory.
