Industrial Boiler Explodes In Sao Paulo, Dozens Injured, Factory Damaged, Workers Flee As Smoke Fills

Sao Paulo, Brazil— Dozens of workers were injured Monday after an industrial boiler exploded at a manufacturing facility in Sao Paulo, blowing out walls and filling the plant with scalding steam and smoke. The blast shook the whole industrial district.

The explosion hit around 8:40 a.m. at a metal parts factory in the eastern zone of the city. Workers were starting shifts. The boiler, used for pressing and heating, ruptured violently. Metal sheets flew. A mezzanine collapsed. Fire followed the steam.

Fire department officials said at least 34 people were injured, with eight in serious condition with burns and trauma. No deaths have been confirmed yet, but several workers remain under observation. One worker said, "It sounded like a bomb. Then hot water everywhere. We could not see the exit."

Rescue crews rushed in with stretchers. They found workers trapped under fallen racks. Others had burns on arms and faces. Ambulances lined the street. A nearby factory lent forklifts to move debris. The area was cordoned off because of risk of a second blast.

The plant employs about 200 people. The building failed inspection two years ago for pressure vessel safety, according to city records cited by local press. The company said it had made corrections and passed a later check. That check is now being pulled.

Neighbors said windows rattled a kilometer away. Smoke hung for hours. The environmental agency monitored air for chemical release but said initial readings showed no toxic leak beyond steam and soot. Still, residents were told to keep windows closed.

Production is halted. The labor ministry sealed the site and ordered all boilers in the complex shut down. Inspectors were seen photographing serial plates and logbooks. A spokesperson said, "We will look at maintenance records, training logs, everything."

Union officials gathered outside the hospital. They said workers had complained about pressure fluctuations last week. One representative said safety valves were old and overtime was high. The company denies neglect.

Tonight investigators remain inside with flashlights while injured workers wait for surgery in three different hospitals.