Explosion at US Steel Plant Near Pittsburgh Traps Workers, Sparks Massive Rescue Effort
Emergency crews are working urgently to rescue workers trapped beneath rubble after a powerful explosion rocked a U.S. Steel coking plant in Clairton, Allegheny County, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
The blast occurred earlier in the day at the massive industrial facility, which is one of the largest coke production plants in the United States.
Thick columns of black smoke were seen rising from the site, and the shockwave was felt in several nearby communities, prompting calls to local emergency services from startled residents.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of workers trapped or injured, but witnesses reported seeing multiple ambulances, fire engines, and specialized rescue units converge on the scene within minutes of the explosion.
Teams equipped with heavy machinery and search-and-rescue tools are combing through the debris in an effort to reach those trapped.
“The safety of our employees is our highest priority,” U.S. Steel said in a brief statement, adding that the company is cooperating fully with authorities and offering assistance to the affected families.
The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, though early reports suggest it originated in an operational section of the plant used for coke production, a high-temperature process that transforms coal into a fuel used in steelmaking.
The plant has been shut down pending safety inspections and structural assessments.
Residents in nearby neighborhoods reported hearing a loud bang shortly before seeing smoke billow from the direction of the plant. “It felt like the ground shook,” said one local resident, who lives about two miles away.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to allow rescue crews unimpeded access. Local hospitals are on standby to receive any injured workers.
The Clairton facility, operated by U.S. Steel, has been a key part of the Pittsburgh region’s steelmaking industry for decades and employs hundreds of workers.
