US Steel Clairton Mill Works Plant Explosion

Explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Kills One, Injures Dozens

Aug. 11, 2025

Multiple explosions disrupted operations at the nation’s largest coke manufacturing facility, prompting emergency response and air quality monitoring.

Amanda Joshi

An explosion Aug. 11 at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pennsylvania, has reportedly left one person dead, two unaccounted for and dozens injured, according to USA Today. Multiple blasts were reported, and search-and-rescue teams are working to locate missing personnel and assist those trapped in debris, as of press time. Injured employees have reportedly been transported to local hospitals.

The facility — which operates 10 coke oven batteries and produces over 4 million tons annually — has a history of operational incidents, including a February 2025 fire reportedly caused by a hydraulic failure and gas buildup that injured two workers, as reported by the Allegheny Front.

Authorities advised residents within a one-mile radius to remain indoors as a precaution, though air monitoring has not detected contaminant levels reportedly exceeding federal standards. The Allegheny County Department of Health is coordinating with emergency responders and continuing real-time environmental monitoring.

The cause of the explosion has not been determined. The Clairton plant is a key supplier to U.S. Steel’s integrated operations and the commercial coke market, making any prolonged outage potentially disruptive to downstream steelmaking processes.

About the Author

Amanda Joshi | Managing Editor

Amanda Joshi has more than 18 years of experience in business-to-business publishing for both print and digital content. Before joining Chemical Processing, she worked with Manufacturing.net and Electrical Contracting Products. She’s a versatile, award-winning editor with experience in writing and editing technical content, executing marketing strategy, developing new products, attending industry events and developing customer relationships.

Amanda graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2001 with a B.A. in English and has been an English teacher. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and daughter, and their mini Aussiedoodle, Riley. In her rare spare time, she enjoys reading, tackling DIY projects, and horseback riding.