KYODO NEWS - Dec 1, 2017 - 14:20 | Urgent, All

One person died and 11 others were injured after a chemical plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, exploded Friday morning, local fire department and police officials said.

The explosion at the plant operated by Arakawa Chemical Industries Ltd. in the city of Fuji near Mt. Fuji occurred around 8:30 a.m., leaving a 64-year-old man dead, the officials said. Local authorities battled fires and issued an evacuation order -- later lifted -- for about 50 nearby residents.

Arakawa Chemical said the dead and injured are its employees and workers from a different company.

The plant manufactures chemical agents for papermaking and resins for printing inks, its operator said.