Ohio Metal Factory Explosion Kills 1, Injures 13

One person died following an explosion at an Ohio metal factory on Monday afternoon, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office.

According to WKYC, the explosion occurred at the I Schumann & Co. metal alloy plant on Alexander Road in Oakwood Village at around 2:15 p.m. Multiple firefighters from Greater Cleveland and Akron rushed to the scene to provide mutual aid.

The deceased victim has been identified as Steve Mullins, a 46-year-old North Ridgeville native working as a maintenance worker at the plant. Oakwood Fire Capt. Brian DiRocco noted that at least 13 others were taken to nearby hospitals, some suffering burn wounds.

MetroHealth Medical Center told 3News that they were treating four patients, with two listed as critical, while University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood said they were treating seven people in their facility. There were others treated at the site.

Cause of the Ohio Metal Factory Explosion Is Still Unknown

According to a spokesperson from the Twinsburg Fire Department in Ohio, the explosion's cause is still unknown at this time.

As of 5 p.m., Brian DiRocco said the bulk of the fire was out, but debris was still scattered around the area, with fire crews working on putting out hot spots. CNN reported that Stephenie Davis was working in her Oakwood Village office when she felt the building shake.

Davis told the outlet that she went to a window and saw a "huge cloud of black smoke" rising from a structure less than a thousand feet away. She and her coworkers then rushed outside and saw debris all over the parking lot and roof.

"Some windows at our neighboring building in front of us were blown out, cars were damaged, and debris was on the ground on fire," Davis noted.

Videos uploaded to Facebook show a massive plume of smoke filling the sky as flames consume a structure across the street. Photos also show a truck with dents and damage in the parking lot adjacent to burning debris.

"Everyone was in shock and looking at their cars and the building where the smoke was exiting," Davis noted. "We heard another smaller boom, and everyone started to either get in their cars to leave or go back into their work building for safety."

Residents should avoid the area as fire crews continue to work, the Twinsburg Fire Department said.

Ohio Metal Factory Explosion Happens 2 Weeks After the Train Incident

As a train carrying deadly chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, just over two weeks ago, residents were forced to evacuate. The Independent also reported growing concerns about the safety of local water supplies.

Health concerns have been mounting since the 150-car train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed last February 3, which prompted Norfolk Southern officials to release and burn a toxic chemical in the area to prevent an explosion.

The Ohio Health Department will launch a clinic in East Palestine on Tuesday to address these health concerns. Residents continued to seek answers from Norfolk Southern. The state attorney general's office has already indicated it plans to take legal action against the railroad company after the accident.

Meanwhile, the Republicans are criticizing Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for not yet visiting the site of the Ohio train derailment, despite his strongly worded letter to the firm.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 13 Injured After Explosion at Ohio Metals Plant - From WLWT