Fatal explosion at Mitsui plant may affect resorcinol supplies

Mitsui Chemicals reports that on Sunday an explosion and fire occurred at its chemical plant at Iwakuni-Ohtake Works in Japan. One worker is dead and another 21 people have been injured, two seriously. The plant produces resorcinol and the company is not yet able to say how the explosion will affect supplies of resorcinol and related chemicals.

The explosion occurred at 2:15 a.m. local time on Sunday April 22 in the resorcinol plant and the resulting fire spread to the cymene plant and utility piping rack, causing a second explosion in the resorcinol plant tank at 8:05 a.m. local time. Mitsui reports that the fire was brought under control at all plants by 17:15 local time. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Here is the company press release on the incident.