1 Killed in Japan chemical plant explosion

One person was killed and 16 others were injured Sunday when two explosions rocked a chemical plant in western Japan, company officials said. The first explosion at Mitsui Chemicals' Iwakuni-Ohtake facility broke windows in more than 100 buildings at about 2 a.m., broadcaster NHK reported. A 22-year-old employee was killed and 16 others injured. No injuries were reported from a second blast that took place just before 8 a.m., the report said. Mitsui Chemicals said the explosions happened during a halt in operations that was initiated after problems at a different plant Saturday. Firefighters were on the scene working to secure the area.