Iran: Steel mill blast caused by gas leak

The blast which killed eight workers at an Iranian steel mill may have been caused by a gas leak, Tehran's ILNA news agency reported on Monday night.

Foreign media reports suggested earlier that the mysterious explosion was the result of sabotage in the plant, which is said to be processing North Korean steel used for uranium enrichment centrifuges.

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Iran claimed Sunday that the cause of the blast was the penetration of water into the steel's melting pot, but later said that ammunition brought to the factory had exploded.

Iranian TV reports of the explosion

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The region's governor told ILNA (the Iranian Labour News Agnecy) that he was told by experts that "the remnants of several gas tanks were found at the scene of the explosion and they are believed to be the cause of the blast."

ILNA cited a similar event in 2010 which took place at the same factory. One person was killed in that blast. According to the report, the plant has been the site of five similar accidental explosions, which were never made public.

"The factory is plagued by various safety issues which the regional safety director will have to answer for," the report said.

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