2 dead in western Pennsylvania zinc plant explosion, all other workers accounted for

2 dead in Pa. zinc plant explosion

MONACA, Pa. — A fire and explosion at a zinc smelting plant in western Pennsylvania has killed two people, Beaver County emergency dispatchers said Thursday.

Beaver County dispatcher Kevin Joy told The Associated Press that rescue crews and firefighters found the second worker, who had initially been reported missing. Joys said the rest of the plant’s work force was safe and accounted for.

The explosion happened at the Horsehead Corp. facility in Monaca, approximately 28 miles north of Pittsburgh, at 4:30 p.m.

Horsehead spokesman Ali Alavi said the explosion involved a refinery column that produces zinc oxide. He says the facility has about 600 employees.

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/ourfacilities.php