By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
TEN Zambian employees and a Chinese sustained multiple burns after an explosion at Jinfa Steel Company Limited.
Six of the victims are in a critical condition.
The explosion occurred on Thursday morning at the company premises at Sabina area on the Kitwe-Chingola road.
The 11 victims were identified as Evans Kalufyanga, aged 46, Maybin Nkandu 29, Gideon Mtonga 32, Mike Shabukome 28, Aaron Musonda 29, Kunda Nkandu 24, Angel Mubanga 29, Christine Simwanza 31, Musonda Everisto, 26 and Luo Yi Ping, 55.
Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Elias Chushi, said the workers were loading scrap metals in the furnace when the substances exploded and splashed on the employees.
“It is suspected that some scrap metals had harmful substances which could have caused the explosion. All the injured are admitted to Sinozam Friendly Hospital in Kitwe.
“Out of the 11 casualties, six are in a critical condition whereas five are stable,” Mr Chushi said.
He said that investigations had been instituted.
