Explosion at Indonesia nickel plant kills 13 people

In the statement made by Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), it was stated that the fire occurred at 05.30 on Sunday while workers were repairing the furnace, and nine Indonesian workers and four Chinese workers died. The fire was extinguished at 09.10 local time.

IMIP said the furnace was shut down the day before in preparation for maintenance, but excess iron slag leaked from the furnace during the maintenance process.

"The furnace walls collapsed and the remaining iron slag flowed out, causing a fire that resulted in injuries and even death to some workers in the area," IMIP spokesman Dedy Kurniawan said in a statement.