Explosion hits Japan''s Cosmo Oil refinery, no casualties

KUN0013 4 GEN 0208 FRANCE /AFP -QRK2 PWR-JAPAN-EXPLOSION Explosion hits Japan's Cosmo Oil refinery, no casualties TOKYO, April 16 (KUNA) -- An explosion and fire damaged part of a Cosmo Oil Co. refinery in Chiba Prefecture, some 35 km east of Tokyo on Sunday, but caused no casualties. The blast occurred around 5:40 a.m. (8:40 p.m. GMT Saturday) at its Ichihara plant and a fire set off by the explosion was put out about three hours later, the local fire department said, adding that all 57 workers at the refinery were evacuated safely. It also said there was some leakage of toxic gas in the vicinity of the unit, but such substance could not be detected after the fire was brought under control. According to police and the fire department, the explosion occurred at a facility to remove sulfur from heavy oil and damaged pipes. Thick black smoke and flames were rising high into the air from the refinery, which is about 1 km away from the nearest residential area. "We are sorry for causing this trouble. We will investigate the cause of the incident, " said the head of the refinery. According to the firm, Japan's fourth-largest refiner, operation of a 240, 000-bpd crude distillation unit at the refinery would not be affected by the fire. (end) mk.bn KUNA 161020 Apr 06NNNN