One Killed, 11 Injured in Blast at Central Japan Plant

July 3, 2018

Fukui- One person was killed and 11 others suffered injuries in an explosion at a chemical plant in the town of Wakasa in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday.

At 1:45 p.m. (4:45 a.m. GMT), fire authorities received a phone call reporting that the sound of an explosion was heard at Tokyo-based Protein Chemical Co.'s plant in Wakasa Techno Valley, an industrial park in the town, and that yellow smoke is rising from the facility. The call was made by an employee of another factory.

According to the Fukui prefectural police department's Obama station in the city of Obama, adjacent to Wakasa, Takefumi Miyake, a 39-year-old male worker at the Protein Chemical plant and resident of Obama, died from chest trauma brought about by the blast.

The 11 injured people, including two living near the plant, were sent to hospital by ambulance.

Of them, an 18-year-old male worker at the plant, also an Obama resident, suffered serious injuries, including burns on the face. The other 10 complained of pain in the eyes or other problems, but their injuries are not believed to be serious, investigative sources said.

Miyake was pouring a liquid agent into a container when the blast occurred, according to the Obama station.

Following the explosion, nitrogen oxide leaked out of the plant's premises, but no major impact has been caused to the nearby environment, sources said.

The plant, which has some 25 workers, manufactures chemical substances used to make materials for drugs and other products, according to Protein Chemical. The police are investigating details about the cause of the accident. Jiji Press