An oxygen gas pipe broke for a still unknown reason at AvestaPolarit's Tornio melt shop line number 2 today. The accident caused an explosive fire, which was put out within half an hour.

The accident took three peoples lives. The victims were badly burned and identification is still going on.

The melt shop was in annual maintenance stoppage and control work was being done on valves at the oxygen-line, which runs through the scrapyard to the melt shop. The back-pressure valves had been changed and testing of the system was starting up. An inquiry into the accident has been started by the national Accident Investigation Board.

A crisis team to support and help the people closest involved was engaged immediately.

More information about the accident will be given continously as investigations proceed.

From the Tornio-site more information will be given by:

VP- Administration Risto Liisanantti, phone +358 400 581 628
Melt shop manager Mikko Korteniemi, phone +358 40 743 4191
Communications manager Kauko Kontio, phone 358 40 725 5857