One person has died and at least 13 people have been injured following a large explosion at a metal manufacturing plant in Bedford, Ohio.
Ambulances were pictured on the scene of 1 Schumann & Co., which makes brass and bronze alloys.
It’s unclear what caused the explosion, which happened around 2.15pm Monday.
The blast sent smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles around the damaged factory. Emergency services have also requested the development of several medical helicopters.
The explosion in Bedford, Ohio is located just about 70 miles northwest of East Palestine, where a toxic train derailed on February 3. It is just south of Cleveland.
A metal manufacturing plant in Bedford, Ohio exploded on Monday
Ambulances were pictured on the scene of 1 Schumann & Co., which makes brass and bronze alloys
The blast sent smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles around the damaged factory
All of those injured were on site, the falling debris having spared those at neighboring businesses, Oakwood Fire Department Captain Brian DiRocco said.
‘The people were mostly walking wounded. They were coming up to us,’ DiRocco said. ‘I’m sure there’s a lot of people that work here that were in shock.’
Witnesses told local News 5 that there were two explosions: a small one followed by a larger one around 2.30pm.
The brick wall of the building was completely blown away, with bricks hitting cars and businesses nearby.
Debris was also blown across the street.
‘I’m finishing my porkchop from Tasty Take-Outs, like I usually do … finished my porkchop … next thing you know—BOOM.
Debris covers the ground and nearby cars after the explosion
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Smoke rises from a metal manufacturing plant after an explosion in Bedford, Ohio
Two unnamed workers walk away from the I. Schumann & Co. metals plant after an explosion at the factory
‘I looked over and it was just … boom.
‘Ridiculous, I don’t know how nothing hit me,’ a witness told News 5.
Oakwood Fire Department officials said the cause of the explosion is under investigation but called the facility a ‘relatively safe plant.’
‘It’s a foundry, so you’re dealing with molten hot metal, so there’s always an inherent danger,’ a spokesman said.
Representatives of the company, which produces copper, brass and bronze allows, could not immediately be reached for comment. The business has operated since 1917, according to its website.
A vehicle sits under a pile of rubble following the explosion on Monday
Debris covers the ground and nearby cars after an explosion at the I. Schumann & Co
A helmet was left on the ground from a worker that escaped the explosion
Matthew Wiggins, owner of the neighboring business Rose Colored Gaming, told WOIO he heard a large explosion and that ‘within a second or two, it sounded like large amounts of debris were hitting the roof.’
‘Things were falling off the walls, falling off shelves. We went out front and there was like smoldering rocks and molten metal in the yard. Tons and tons of smoke. Fire billowing out of the building across the street,’ Wiggins said.
Another witness, Joe Sarconi, said he was eating lunch in his car across the street when he heard at least two explosions that obliterated a brick wall enclosing the property.
‘A beam flew across the street. That other beam flew across the street and blew out our window,’ Sarconi said. ‘Exciting, but horrible.’
