Sixth person dies after KZN explosion

Another victim of the blast at a KwaZulu-Natal ferromanganese smelter near Durban on Sunday, died this afternoon.

Netcare 911 spokesman, Chris Botha, said this was the sixth person that had died since the blast and subsequent fire that ripped through the number six furnace at Assmang ferromanganese smelter in Cato Ridge -- about 60km from Durban.

One person died in the initial blast in the early hours of Sunday morning and three people died later during the course of Sunday. Another person died succumbed to his wounds on Monday.

Botha said the sixth person was being treated at Pietermaritzburg's St Anne's Hospital.

There are still another four people receiving treatment.

The department of labour on Sunday ordered that all the furnaces be decommissioned and has launched an investigation into the explosion. The factory has been the subject of a Labour Department inquiry into workers' exposure to poisonous fumes.

The latest session of the inquiry was started on Monday, but was disrupted by angry workers.

All six furnaces of the Assmang plant remain closed. - Sapa