Chemicals blast kills one in Japan

AN EXPLOSION at a chemicals plant in Japan on 2 July has killed one worker and injured at least a dozen others, according to reports.

The Japan Times reports that the blast occurred at a facility owned by Protein Chemical in the town of Wakasa, citing information from fire authorities.

“A total of 12 people were sent to hospitals after the explosion, one died and another is seriously injured,” a fire station official told AFP.

Public broadcaster NHK reports that the headquarters of Protein Chemical in Tokyo said the explosion occurred in “the process of mixing three chemicals such as nitric acid…to make raw materials for semiconductors”.

Video footage of the factory shows a hole blasted out of the roof and blown-out windows. NHK reports that official investigations are under way by the company and authorities.