An explosion occurred on Monday in a steel factory in the Pittsburgh area, leaving people trapped in the rubble, The authorities said.
A Allegheny County spokesman said a rescue operation was underway at Us Steel Cloirton Coke Works in Cloirton, Pennsylvania, for trapped people.
The Department of Health is also on site to monitor air quality, said the spokesman in a statement.
The Mercy Hospital of the Medical Center of the University of Pittsburgh said it was treating two patients. Allegheny Health Network said he was treating seven patients.
A cause of the explosion is not clear. Governor Josh Shapiro said his administration is in contact with local officials.
“The scene is still active, and the nearby people must follow the direction of the local authorities. Please, unite Lori and me to pray for the Cloirton community,” Shapiro said in a publication about X.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis said he meets people who work at the cooking plant.
“The Commonwealth is providing any resource and labor that are necessary to help with the emergency response,” he said in an X publication. “Please keep away from the area at this time to allow emergency equipment to do their work and follow all the future orientation of officials for those who live close.”
The mayor of CLIRIRTON, Richard Lattanzi, said it is a sad day for the city and “a sad day for steel workers.”
“These guys come to work and put on their team and go to work to make a living with their family, not knowing if they are going to get home or not,” Pittsburgh told NBC Wpxi. “This is one of those situations.”
US Steel did not immediately respond to a request for comments from NBC News.
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