CNA, Dec 24, 2023

JAKARTA: At least 13 people were killed and 46 injured in easternIndonesia on Sunday (Dec 24) in an explosion at a Chinese-fundednickel-processing plant, the owner of the industrial park that hosts thefacility said.

The island of Sulawesi is a hub for the mineral-rich country's production ofnickel, a base metal used for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel,and Beijing's growing investment has stoked unrest over working conditions atits facilities.

The accident took place at around 5.30am (9.30pm on Saturday GMT) at a plantowned by Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel in the Morowali Industrial Parklocated in Central Sulawesi province, a spokesperson for the complex said in astatement.

"The confirmed number of fatalities is 13 people, consisting of nineIndonesian workers and four workers from China," the spokesperson said ina statement, revising the number of the fallen foreign workers down one tofour.

Forty-six other victims were injured, mostly due to exposure to hot steam,he said.

About 29 victims were referred to a government-run hospital in Morowalidistrict, while 12 others were under observation at a clinic in the industrialcomplex and five people were receiving outpatient care.

An investigation showed the explosion happened during repair work on afurnace, which was closed for maintenance, when residual slag from the furnaceflowed out and came in contact with flammable materials around the location.

The fire was successfully extinguished on Sunday morning, according to thestatement.

Tsingshan Holding Group, the world's biggest nickel producer and China'sbiggest stainless steelmaker, holds a majority stake in ITSS.

ITSS is a tenant in the industrial park, which is also majority-owned byTsingshan along with local partner Bintang Delapan.

Caption: A Chineseworker who was injured in the explosion at a nickel smelter furnace is broughtto the Morowali Regional General Hospital in Central Sulawesi on Dec 24, 2023.(Photo: AFP)