1 dead, 1 missing in western Pa. zinc plant explosion

1 dead, 1 missing in Pa. zinc plant explosion

MONACA, Pa. — An explosion and fire at a zinc smelting plant in western Pennsylvania has left one person dead, and another person is missing, Beaver County emergency dispatchers said Thursday.

Robert Bennett told The Associated Press that firefighters and rescue workers were searching for the missing worker at the Horsehead Corp. facility in Monaca, approximately 28 miles north of Pittsburgh.

It was not immediately clear how many people were injured in the explosion, which happened at 4:30 p.m.

Horsehead spokesman Ali Alavi says the explosion involved a refinery column that produces zinc oxide. He says the facility has about 600 employees, and so far there’s no word of injuries.

On its website, Horsehead said the Monaca electrothermic zinc smelter “operates as the country’s largest.”

Zinc is used to used galvanize metal to protect it from corrosion, as well as in batteries in a powdered form.

Online:

Horsehead Monaca facility: www.horsehead.net