MARSTON, Mo. - Emergency crews are on the scene of a massive explosion at a southeast Missouri aluminum plant.
The explosion and fire around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday sent a large plume of smoke above the Noranda Aluminum (
NYSE:NOR,
Forum) plant near the town of Marston in New Madrid County, about 140 miles south of St. Louis.
John Parker, Noranda's vice-president of communications, says the company is still working to account for all employees. He says there are no known fatalities or critical injuries, though some people suffered what appeared to be non-critical burns.
Parker called the blast a molten metal explosion in the cast house of the plant, which employs about 900 workers. He isn't sure how many employees were working at the time.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation.