A chemical explosion at General Motor’s (GM’s) factory near Fort Wayne, Indiana in the US left one dead and eight injured, the automaker said.
In a telephonic interview from Bloomberg, city’s deputy police chief Cliff Sessoms said that emergency officials received a call at about 1:50 p.m. local time about a blast at GM’s metal-stamping facility in Marion. Sessoms also confirmed the fatality and said eight people were injured.
Expressing his views on explosion in General Motor’s plant, Bill Grotz, a spokesman for the company said that the deceased person was a contract term member who died in the explosion. Grotz added that four people were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries while remaining four were taken to the hospital but finally required no treatment.
The Marion Metal Center provides blanks, stampings and sheet-metal assembly for cars, vans, trucks and SUVs to GM assembly plants throughout North America and employs more than 1,600 people.
“When the explosion occurred, employees were evacuated and fire department and other emergency personnel responded quickly,” Grotz said. He further added, “Our condolences and deepest sympathies go to our team member’s family and colleagues.”
Exact cause of the explosion is still unknown. Quaker Chemical Chief Executive Officer Michael F Barry said that they will work with GM and government agencies to understand what occurred.
The company said that operations will resume immediately and it expects first-shift employees to report to work at their normal time.
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Source: Bloomberg