At least 12 killed in steel plant explosion in Mexico

A blast at a steel plant in Tlaxcala left one person critically injured. The explosion, believed to be caused by a smelting apparatus collapse, temporarily halted operations.

In Short

• Liquid steel spill caused temporary shutdown
• Blast was likely caused after smelting apparatus collapsed
• Investigation into cause of accident underway

An explosion at a Simec-owned steel plant in Mexico's central Tlaxcala state in the early hours of Wednesday killed at least 12 people, state authorities said.

"At the plant of the steel complex located in the city of Apizaco, Tlaxcala, a liquid steel spill occurred with the loss of human lives, temporarily paralysing operations," the firm said in a statement.

Simec said it is investigating what caused the accident.

The state civil protection office said in a social media postthat the blast was likely caused after smelting apparatus collapsed.

Those killed were workers at the plant, the state prosecutor's office told Reuters. One person is hospitalised in critical condition, the office added.

Authorities say they are investigating what caused the incident. However, molten steel, when it comes into contact with water, causes an explosion.