Five dead in Mitsubishi factory explosion in Japan

An explosion at a Mitsubishi factory in central Japan has killed at least five people and injured 12 more.

18:01 09 January 2014

An explosion in central Japan at a Mitsubishi factory, which manufactures polymers and uses a number of highly volatile chemicals like chlorine and hydrogen, has led to the death of at least five people. Another 12 were injured.

The blast took place in Yokkaichi City, Mie prefecture. Officials said that maintenance crews were cleaning out a heat exchanger when the blast happened.

Officials added that the explosion, which took place on Thursday afternoon, local time, did not cause a fire at the chemical plant.

Meanwhile, BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo reports that a same similar non-fatal accident happened at the same plant two years ago.

Industrial accidents in Japan have lead to the deaths of thousands of people over the last 20 years. However, a steady decline in numbers has been observed. From around 2,500 a year in 1990, this number has decreased to just over 1,000 a year in 2010.

Mitsubishi Materials - a division of the huge Mitsubishi Corporation - makes a range of automotive, electronics, and construction and engineering products.