A fire on Oct. 17 killed at least two at BASF's Ludwigshafen site. Credit: AFP
From C&EN's story:
A huge explosion and fire at BASF's Ludwigshafen, Germany, site-one of the world's largest chemical complexes-killed two company firefighters. Another employee is missing. Eight other BASF staffers were seriously injured and 17 slightly injured from the fire, which broke out on the morning of Monday, Oct. 17.
The explosion and resultant fire occurred among pipelines that connect the firm's harbor on the Rhine River to the Ludwigshafen complex. Maintenance work was being carried out on the pipelines, some of which carry ethylene and propylene, at the time of the explosion. The fire burned for more than 10 hours before it was extinguished.
Go read the story for more.