Aerial view of the Morowali industrial park, May 14, 2023 in Indonesia (AFP/Archives/RIZA SALMAN)
An explosion on Sunday left at least 12 dead and 39 injured at a Chinese-financed nickel processing plant in eastern Indonesia, an official at the industrial complex where the plant is located said.
The accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. (9:30 p.m. GMT Saturday) at a PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel factory in the Morowali industrial park on the island of Sulawesi, spokesperson Dedy Kurniawan said in a statement. of this industrial zone.
“The current number of victims is 51 people. Twelve people died in the accident. There are 39 people with minor or serious injuries who are currently receiving medical treatment,” he wrote.
He added that the dead were seven Indonesian workers and five foreigners, but did not specify the nationality of the latter.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the explosion took place during repair work on a blast furnace. A flammable liquid ignited, and the fire spread to oxygen tanks which exploded, the spokesperson explained. The fire was extinguished on Sunday morning.
The island of Sulawesi is a major production center for nickel, a base metal used in particular in electric car batteries and for the manufacture of stainless steel. China has invested heavily in factories there, but working conditions there are often criticized.
Last January, two workers, including a Chinese citizen, were killed at a nickel smelting plant located in the same industrial complex during a riot over wage conditions and workplace safety.
© 2023 AFP
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