Explosion at Mexico Plant Owned by Parent Company of Canton’s Republic Steel Kills 12

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  A deadly explosion at a Grupo Simec-owned steel plant in central Mexico’s Tlaxcala state has claimed the lives of at least 12 workers, authorities said Wednesday. The blast, which occurred in the early hours at the Apizaco plant, temporarily halted operations at the facility as officials worked to determine the cause of the tragic incident.

The Tlaxcala plant is part of Grupo Simec’s operations and is tied to recent shifts within the company. Last year, Grupo Simec indefinitely closed two U.S. facilities operated by Canton-based Republic Steel, one in Canton, Ohio, and another in New York. The closures allowed the company to consolidate operations at its Mexico-based plant, the site of Wednesday’s fatal explosion.

According to a statement from Simec, the accident was triggered by a liquid steel spill, leading to the explosion and the subsequent shutdown of the facility. “At the plant of the steel complex located in the city of Apizaco, Tlaxcala, a liquid steel spill occurred with the loss of human lives, temporarily paralyzing operations,” the company stated. It added that an internal investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Tlaxcala’s state civil protection office suggested that the blast may have resulted from the collapse of smelting apparatus at the plant. The incident left 12 workers dead and one individual hospitalized in critical condition, according to the state prosecutor’s office. Experts note that when molten steel comes into contact with water, it can result in a sudden and violent explosion, a possibility investigators are likely considering as they review the circumstances.

The explosion and its toll have prompted immediate responses from safety officials and have renewed scrutiny of the decision to centralize steel operations in Mexico.

Courtesy: www.jordanmiller.news