Five dead after blast at chemical plant in Japan

An explosion at a chemical factory in central Japan killed at least five workers and injured 17 others, according to authorities.

The likely culprit of the January 9 blast at chemical company Mitsubishi Materials Corp.’s Yokkaichi plant was a chemical reaction involving hydrogen, investigators said.

The plant is located about 350 kilometres west of Tokyo.

The blast appeared to have occurred when plant workers were rinsing heat exchange equipment at the silicone plant during maintenance.

The dead and injured were all believed to be workers at the factory.