At least five people were killed and more than 10 others injured after a Japanese chemical factory exploded on Thursday.
Police in Japan told the Guardian that a blast occurred inside the Mitsubishi Materials Corporation plant, a metal and chemical production facility located in the northeastern Japanese city of Yokkaichi.
The explosion happened during maintenance, fire department officials said.
17 people have been reported as injured thus far, the Guardian reported. They were all transported to medical centers nearby, but their respective conditions have not yet been publicized.
Police told the Guardian that two were pronounced dead, while Kyodo News agency reported that five had been killed by the blast.
Although it hasn't been confirmed, police from Mie prefecture said they wagered a chemical reaction led to a hydrogen explosion.
Employees of the plant were reportedly washing off heat exchange equipment at the time of the blast.
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