At least four people were injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in north-eastern Japan on Tuesday morning, local media reported.
The four were conscious after the blast that took place in the city of Iwaki, 180 km north-east of Tokyo, Kyodo News reported.
Footage from national broadcaster NHK showed billowing smoke pouring from the chemical production factory.
“I heard a ‘bang’ and then saw a plume of white smoke rising vertically from the factory,’’ a local resident told Kyodo.
Poisonous gas was not emitted from the site, city officials said.
18 people were working at the plant, which produces zinc and zinc oxide, and there might have been some visitors there at the time of the blast.
dpa/NAN
