KAZAKHSTAN – Two workers killed after explosion at Kazakhstan metallurgical plant
Two workers were killed and five others injured after an explosion and fire struck a metallurgical facility in eastern Kazakhstan, authorities and company officials confirmed.
The incident took place at Kazzinc’s Ust-Kamenogorsk Metallurgical Complex in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk, also known as Oskemen. The facility is one of Kazakhstan’s largest producers of non-ferrous metals, including zinc, copper, lead, and precious metals for domestic and export markets.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the explosion occurred in an area associated with a dust collection system in the plant’s zinc production unit. Kazzinc said employees had been carrying out maintenance and cleaning work on a smoke extraction system when the blast happened.
The explosion triggered a fire and caused a partial collapse of structures within the affected section of the plant. Emergency services and firefighters responded to the scene to manage the fire and assist rescue operations.
Kazzinc, Kazakhstan’s largest zinc producer and majority owned by Glencore, said the cause of the incident has yet to be determined. Local authorities and the company are investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
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