Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Cassandra Morgan

Worker killed as chemical explosion ignites factory

Fire crews in Melbourne brought the factory fire under control after more than two hours. (Morgan Hancock/AAP PHOTOS)

A worker has died after a chemical explosion caused a factory fire in Melbourne's west.

It took fire crews more than two hours to bring the blaze under control following the explosion at the factory in Derrimut about 9.45am on Thursday.

About 80 firefighters battled a chemical fire in a warehouse at the back of the property and at least 30 people at the factory were forced to evacuate.

Police discovered a dead worker, a 44-year-old man from Hoppers Crossing, inside the building.

Nobody else was injured in the explosion.

Police said the circumstances surrounding the incident were yet to be determined and the investigation was ongoing.

A Fire Rescue Victoria scientific officer was at the factory to provide specialist chemical advice.

WorkSafe was also investigating the fire, a spokeswoman said.

Police urged anyone with information about the fire to contact Crime Stoppers.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.