One dead in steel plant explosion

One person has died and 15 others have been taken to hospital after a series of explosions at a South Wales steel works.

A major fire has broken out in a blast furnace at the Corus steel plant in Port Talbot.

Corus say a serious escape of molten iron has taken place. One other person is believed missing.

Police said 15 people had been taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

A hospital spokesman said the casualties were suffering from "burns and trauma injuries."

The first injured began arriving around 6.30pm, just over an hour after the fire broke out at the steel plant, six miles away.

The spokesman added that more injured steelworkers may be brought in as the rescue operation continues.

Local Councillor Clive Owen said the furnace was due to be relined in 2004 and contractors had been working on it as an interim measure.

"They were going to be relining it in a couple of years and I think they were patching it up," he said.

A major incident has been declared and a casualty bureau for concerned members of the public has been set up.