Pennsylvania: A second person has been confirmed dead following a powerful explosion at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The body was found during an extensive search operation that continued into the evening at the facility, located about 15 miles (24 km) south of Pittsburgh. Police reported one fatality and at least 10 injuries in the blast, which destroyed part of the plant.
Five of the injured remain in critical but stable condition, while the others have been discharged from the hospital. Authorities guaranteed that no other workers were missing. The first victim has been identified by family members as 39-year-old Timothy Quinn, a father of three from Fitz Henry, Westmoreland County. The second victim has not yet been named.
An order instructing residents within a one-mile radius to keep windows and doors shut due to potential air pollution was lifted. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with US Steel cooperating with relevant authorities.
Mayor Richard Lattanzi remarked that, “This is just a sad day for Clairton.” US Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt described the facility as ‘stable’ but noted that it remains an active investigation site. The plant, the largest coking operation in North America, employs around 1,300 workers and is a major producer of coke, a coal-based fuel used in steelmaking.
Clairton Coke Works has faced longstanding pollution concerns, with millions of dollars in fines and settlements in recent years. In 2023 alone, the Allegheny County Health Department fined US Steel nearly $2.2 million for equipment issues and exceeding hydrogen sulfide emission limits.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and US Senator John Fetterman were among the officials present at the scene, with Fetterman confirming he witnessed active search and rescue efforts shortly after the incident.
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