A powerful explosion at the Clairton Coke Works plant, owned by U.S. Steel and located about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh, left at least one person dead, two missing and dozens injured this Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. The initial blast occurred around 10:51 a.m. in a gas control building between two coke batteries, followed by multiple secondary explosions.
Allegheny County authorities confirmed that emergency crews and local police deployed a massive search and rescue operation, using ambulances, medical helicopters and heavy machinery to remove debris and locate the missing.
Testimonials and first images
A rescue operation is underway for people trapped under rubble following an explosion at a Pennsylvania steel plant, county officials said.
It’s not clear how many people are trapped from the blast at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton. https://t.co/wW0te3EYBQ pic.twitter.com/6QssqJ9ied
– ABC News (@ABC) August 11, 2025
Construction worker Zachary Buday, who was near the plant, told local television station WTAE that the boom “sounded like thunder.”
He also recounted that the shock wave “shook the building” and his own chest.
Soon after, he saw thick plumes of black smoke rising from the facility.
The moment of the explosion was captured on video by the Breathe Project, a non-profit organization that monitors air quality in the region, showing the impact and magnitude of the incident.
Official response and warnings to the population
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that his administration is coordinating resources with local authorities to address the emergency and provide assistance to victims.
Shapiro asked residents to follow official directions as rescue efforts continue inside the plant.
The Allegheny County Health Department issued a precautionary warning for those living within a one-mile radius of the plant.
He asked the population to stay indoors, close windows and doors, and put ventilation systems on recirculation mode.
Although air monitors have not detected dangerous levels of pollutants above federal standards, the recommendation seeks to prevent additional risks.
A recent history of incidents
This is not the first time the plant has faced safety problems.
Last February 5, 2025, a fire at the same facility left two workers injured.
This after the accumulation of gases that ignited due to a hydraulic failure in a coke battery switch.
In addition, the plant has been subject to legal actions and sanctions since 2018.
The above for violations related to pollutant emissions, leaks, and process and equipment failures, according to county health department records.
The largest coke plant in the U.S.
The Clairton Coke Works is the largest coke production facility in the country.
It operates 10 batteries of furnaces and produces more than 4 million tons per year of this material, which is essential for steelmaking.
Coke is obtained by heating coal without oxygen at temperatures up to 1,125 degrees Fahrenheit, removing impurities and generating a porous, carbon-rich material used in blast furnaces.
What Hispanics need to know in the region
Buzzy
For the Hispanic community in and around Pennsylvania, this incident represents a risk not only because of the immediate danger of the explosion, but also because of the potential impact on air quality. Recommended:
Follow official alerts and communications from the Department of Health.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to outside air until further notice.
Keep informed through reliable local media in Spanish.
Verify the safety of family members or acquaintances working in the plant or nearby areas.
Authorities continue to work to determine the exact causes of the explosion and to ensure that there are no more victims in the rubble.
Lori and I are forever grateful for the bravery of our first responders and continue to pray for the entire Clairton community
Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
