“Death Toll Rises to 20 in Morowali Steel Furnace Explosion”, January 3, 2024

The death toll from a workplace accident at Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, has increased to 20 individuals, including 12 Indonesian workers and eight foreign workers, according to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police.

In addition to the fatalities, there are 29 individuals with severe injuries and 11 with minor injuries currently receiving treatment in several hospitals, including those in Makassar and Jakarta.

"We are handling the case and we hope the victims receiving treatment will recover soon," Central Sulawesi Police Chief, Agus Nugroho, said in Palu, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday.

Agus said that identifying suspects in the smelter furnace explosion awaits the joint team's investigation results. The explosion occurred on Dec. 24, 2023, at the ITSS plant in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP), which owns a 10 percent stake in the Chinese-funded metal processing plant.

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