Sasol Ltd., Johannesburg, and South Africa's Department of Labor are investigating an explosion Tuesday at the Sasol Polymers ethylene plant in Secunda, South Africa, that killed at least five people and injured many others. Initial information indicates that the incident was caused by a gas leak that ignited.
The resulting fire was extinguished "within minutes," Sasol said, with the gas cloud brought under control and people moved to a safe location.
The ethylene plant, part of Sasol Polymers' chemicals production facility, currently is undergoing planned maintenance, and several contracting firms were on site at the time of the explosion. The total number of injured has not yet been confirmed, and some remain missing. Emergency services continue to sweep the area.
Fuel production was not affected by the blast or fire, Sasol said.