Explosion at Tata Steel factory injures workers
Four people were injured Wednesday morning when an explosion took place at a Tata Steel facility in Velsen-Noord, Noord Holland. All four of the victims are employees who were transported to area hospitals, the company said. Their injuries were not specified, but were not believed to be life threatening, a Tata Steel spokesperson told several news outlets.
The accident took place during maintenance at the Kooks- en Gasfabriek 1, part of the sprawling factory complex between IJmuiden and Wijk aan Zee. The explosion was first called in at about 11:15 a.m. Firefighter crews, at least two ambulances, and a helicopter trauma team were dispatched within a couple of minutes.
One Wijk aan Zee resident told regional broadcaster NH that they heard a loud dull boom, and could feel the ground rumbling below his home. The situation was reportedly under control by noon, and no toxic emissions were released.
The cause of the blast is under investigation by the steel conglomerate and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment's investigative agency Inspectie SZW.
Vanochtend heeft zich bij Kooks- en Gasfabriek 1 bij Tata Steel tijdens onderhoud een explosie voorgedaan. Vier firmamedewerkers hebben verwondingen opgelopen en zijn naar het ziekenhuis vervoerd. Er hebben geen emissies plaatsgevonden. De productie is niet onderbroken.
— Tata Steel in Nederland (@TataSteelNL) March 20, 2019