Video: Two explosions hit chemical plant in Japan

Waki - Two blasts at a chemical plant in western Japan today have killed one worker and injured 22 people, including staff and residents nearby.

RT reports that workers were trying to shut down the Mitsui Chemicals Iwakuni-Ohtake plant, due to a problem in another section of the plant. The plant produces adhesives for rubber tyres and wood. The explosions occurred while attempting to shut down the plant, which is based in Waki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, some 700 kilometers (434 miles) southwest of Tokyo. The first explosion happened at around 2 a.m. local time and killed a 22-year-old employee. A further 11 employees were injured in the blast. The fatality has been confirmed to be 22-year-old Shota Sunakawa, police said, according to Japan Times. The second explosion was at 8 a.m. local time and was caught on a surveillance camera. Luckily the buildings had been evacuated beforehand and no one was hurt in the blast. However more than 430 buildings in the area, including homes close by, were damaged in the explosion. The Japanese police and fire department are investigating the cause of the massive explosions. The police report that there were no dangers of toxic leakages and the flames were brought under control by the fire department around 15 hours after the second explosion.