Explosives Factory Disaster In Japan

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 13

Explosives Factory Disaster In Japan

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) YOKOHAMA, November 20. A tremendous explosion ripped open a chemical factory in a densely-populated Yokohama suburb today, injuring at least 300 people and destroying or damaging an esti mated 1000 homes. * Only one death has been confirmed, but many more are feared. Rescue workers have been unable to enter the still burning Tokyo Chemical Company area.

“There is great danger that more dynamite stored in the factory’s warehouses may explode,” a Yokohama police spokesman said. “Entry is impossible.” This left in doubt the fate of an undetermined number of the 104 employees inside the factory area when the explosion occurred, said the agency.

Families living in a mile and a quarter radius of the site have been evacuated. The explosion rocked the Yokohama district at 10.30 a.m., during the disposal of some waste explosives, police said. One chunk of hot metal landed three miles away. Windows in a railway train passing nearby were shattered. Ten of the 300 passengers aboard were injured by flying glass. Other trains were delayed for 30 minutes.

A heavy pall of smoke hung over the area hours after the disaster. Injured stragglers told of houses being torn apart, of flying debris, windows breaking and confusion.

First reports said several schools were in the path of the blast. Panic-stricken children streamed from the damaged buildings with blood pouring down their faces and hands, police said. Japanese and United States forces ambulances and medical teams rushed to the area, but police blocked all roads into the factory area to guard against further casualties in the event of

more explosions. Police said the one known dead and 300 Injured were all in

the heavily-populated area around the plant. Most of the Injured were detained in hospitals. The Tokyo Chemical Industries Company, located between Yokohama proper and Yokosuka, manufactures explosives for engineering and civil construction projects. The plant was formerly used by the Japanese Navy and during the Korean War to manufacture shells for the United States armed forces. Recently it has been manufacturing explosives for commercial purposes.