On Tuesday morning, July 29, a fire broke out at the Japanese integrated steelmaker Nippon Steel Corporation's Yawata Works coke producing plant, which is located in Kitakyushu in southwestern Japan.
The fire began at 6:40 a.m. local time on a belt conveyer that transports coal to one of the plant's two coke ovens. The conveyor belt then collapsed, damaging pipes carrying inflammable gas generated during the process of coke production. The fire continues to burn but has not spread throughout the plant.
Operations at Yawata's blast furnace, two coke ovens and production lines, including crude steel production, has been suspended.
There have not been any reports of casualties.