Explosion at steel factory injures 25 in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO – A large explosion at a steel factory injured 25 people in a central Brazilian city on Friday, but killed no one.

The explosion occurred at a gasometer in the Usiminas factory in Ipatinga, a mid-sized city in the state of Minas Gerais. Gasometers are used to store gases released during the steel-making process.

The Ipatinga Fire Department said no one died and that the explosion injured 25 people, none of them seriously.

An Usiminas statement said the company’s fire brigade blocked gas pipelines and that no leakage had been detected.

Usiminas said it is investigating what caused the explosion.

News portal G1 reported that residents and school children were evacuated from nearby buildings and showed images of large plumes of smoke over the city.