Steel Mill Worker Killed By Blast While Snapping Pic

Story By: John FengSub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This video – seen nearly four million times online – shows a female worker preparing to take a picture of a malfunctioning factory storage tank when it suddenly explodes next to her.

The unnamed metalwork employee, 49, has not been named, but her employers at Panzhihua Iron and Steel – known commonly as ‘Pangang’ – said they were investigating the fatal accident which happened late on 7 January.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

Footage from the Pangang steel mill in the city of Panzhihua, in south-western China’s Sichuan Province, shows the night shift worker inspecting a leaking tank of liquid oxygen.

As she walks over to the storage unit slowly spewing content into the open, the duty worker was reportedly preparing to take a photo of the malfunction in order to call for urgent repairs.

However, the storage tank next to her explodes without warning, engulfing the area in a cloud of dust, smoke and flames.

In a statement given to local media on 13 January, Pangang confirmed that the employee was killed in the blast.

It was not immediately clear what caused the explosion, but the firm said it was likely caused by cold air entering the leaking pressurised vessel.

Pangang is believed to have suspended work at the steel mill as investigations continue.

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