A dangerous steel plant explosion in Pennsylvania
Vocab level: B2
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We start in Pennsylvania where officials are trying to understand what caused a series of explosions at a steel plant just outside of Pittsburgh on Monday.
Two people were killed and at least 10 people were hurt in the blast,
including one person who was pulled from the smoldering rubble after being trapped for hours.
It happened at US Steel's Clarin Cokeworks,
a massive plant where another incident had occurred just months earlier.
The facility converts raw coal into coke, a key ingredient in the steel making process.
Special ovens are used to heat coal at extreme temperatures for hours.
The process also creates a lethal gas known as coke gas.
Plant officials say two of those ovens were involved in the incident
and the cause is still under investigation.
"Obviously this is a tragedy that we want to understand."
"We're under the investigation and..."
"...we will continue to work not only with the folks behind me..."
"...but the families of those that have been affected."
Now, the family of one of the victims, Timothy Quinn, says that's not the case.
They say they spent nearly 5 hours calling area hospitals and only learned the tragic news after visiting the scene.
"My dad worked at the steel mill for 42 years..."
"....and he would be disgusted in what this situation is right now."
"Accidents happen, but families, that's brothers and sisters, it's a strong reunion."
"They need communication with these families."
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