One dead, dozens injured and missing in Pennsylvania steel plant explosions

Clairton, Pennsylvania - A search and rescue operation was underway Monday after blasts at a Steel plant in Pennsylvania left at least one person dead and dozens wounded, officials said.

US Steel's Clairton Coke Works is seen following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on Monday. © Rebecca DROKE / AFP

"Multiple explosions occurred today at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works," the state's governor Josh Shapiro said in a poston X, naming a plant some 15 miles outside the city of Pittsburgh.

"Injured employees have now been transported to local hospitals to receive care, and search-and-rescue efforts remain active at the plant," he added.

Allegheny County Police said in a Facebook post that emergency services were on the scene and "at this point, officials can confirm there has been one fatality in connection with this incident."

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania posted on X that "dozens" had been wounded.

Some media outlets reported that people were still trapped under the rubble of the explosion.

Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi told CBS there had been several injuries, some "maybe critically."

"I'm just so sad about this whole day," he said.

Videos on social media, not verified by AFP, appeared to show firefighters battling the blaze in front of a gutted industrial building, under a thick plume of white smoke.

Multiple explosions occurred today at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, PA. Since then, my Administration has been in constant contact with labor leaders and local officials, and I’ve spoken with @ACE_Innamorato to reiterate that the Commonwealth is here to provide any…

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) August 11, 2025

UPDATE:

I was just on-site at the Clairton Coke Works.

I’ve been talking with USW and US Steel officials to get more information.

There is an active search and rescue underway, dozens injured, and per police there’s at least one unaccounted for.

— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) August 11, 2025

🚨🔥 MASSIVE EXPLOSION & FIRE at US Steel Clairton Coke Works, Pennsylvania! 🔥🚨

A thunderous blast rocked the largest coke production plant in North America earlier today near Pittsburgh — triggering a Level 3 Mass Casualty Incident. Emergency crews are rushing to the scene… pic.twitter.com/JVeakCB2er

— Technical Master (@BelievInJustice) August 11, 2025

Located on the Monongahela River, the Clairton Coke Works is the largest coking factory in the US.

US Steel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.