Eight people were injured and one person died following an explosion and fire at a paint plant in Ohio on Thursday morning.
Nearly 40 employees were working at the plant just after midnight when an explosion occurred at one of five buildings on Yenkin-Majestic Paint’s campus in Columbus, officials told NBC News.
The employee who died was located in the rubble of the collapsed building after the fire was extinguished, according to Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin. The deceased was identified as 44-year-old Wendell Light, a press room supervisor for the plant.
Most of the employees filed out of the building as firefighters arrived, but two were trapped inside, according to Martin. The pair was rescued and taken to Ohio State University Hospital with critical injuries. Six others were hurt but are in stable condition.
TWO DEAD AFTER EXPLOSION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IGNITES HOUSE, POLICE SUSPECT FIREWORKS
Home security camera footage captures the moment an explosion at a Columbus paint manufacturing plant lit up the sky.
At least eight people were injured, two critically, in the blast. https://t.co/Th960zDwW0 pic.twitter.com/C7ijA9UlLV
— ABC News (@ABC) April 8, 2021
Four other buildings on the plant’s campus were empty at the time of the explosion.
The cause for the blast is currently under investigation, Martin said, adding that there were many chemicals inside the building.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Washington Examiner contacted the Columbus Division of Fire but did not immediately receive a response.
