On Friday, officials in Massachusetts disclosed the identity of the worker who passed away following a significant explosion that devastated a pharmaceutical chemical plant with a history of safety breaches.

The fire department in Newburyport was still clearing the area on the day after the incident, which they defined as a seven-alarm hazardous materials occurrence that dismantled the roof and sprayed fragments as far as 800 feet from the facility, the Associated Press reported.

Although four workers were hospitalized, they were unharmed and released. According to a representative from the Essex County District Attorney’s office, the victim was Jack O’Keefe, 62, from Methuen.

On Friday, Newburyport Deputy Fire Chief Barry Salt told reporters that efforts were being made to make the chemical barrels in the building safe to approach.

The cause of the blast is still unknown.

Written by staff