Blasts at silicones and fertiliser plants each leave three confirmed dead

An image showing a coroner responsible for identifying victims from the Illinois factory explosion

Source: © Jose M Osorio/Zuma Press/PA Images

One worker is still missing in the remains of the AB Specialty Silicones plant

Explosions at a silicones plant in the US and a Russian fertiliser plant have each left three workers confirmed dead, with a fourth suspected dead at the US site.

Of the nine workers onsite at AB Speciality Silicones’ plant in Waukegan, Illinois, on 3 May, two were found dead at the scene. A further four were hospitalised, one of whom later died of their injuries. One is still unaccounted for.

The cause of the blast is not yet known. A team from the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has begun investigations at the scene.

On 6 May, near the Russian city of Berezniki, a fertiliser plant run by the Azot branch of Uralchem left three workers dead and a fourth in hospital. According to local news reporting, welding works away from the main production works of the site triggered residual vapour in a tank to explode.

There were no releases of hazardous substances, and the authorities are investigating the incident and monitoring air quality around the site.

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