Smelter furnace blast in Indonesia kills 12, injures 39

• Explosion occurred at nickel processing plant in Sulawesi.
• Remains of several identified victims had been flown home.
  
• Unrest over working conditions at firm's facilities.
  

As many as 12 people were killed and 39 were injured following an explosion at a Chinese-funded nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia on Sunday, according to an industrial park official.

The explosion occurred at a smelter furnace around 5:30am at a plant owned by PT Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel in the Morowali Industrial Park located in Central Sulawesi province, Dedy Kurniawan, a spokesperson for the complex where the blast took place, said.

"The current number of victims is 51 people. 12 people died in the incident. There are 39 people with minor and serious injuries who are currently receiving medical treatment," he said.

The statement added that seven Indonesians and five foreign workers were killed, without identifying their nationalities.

The official, citing an initial investigation, revealed that the explosion occurred during repair work on a furnace when a flammable liquid ignited and the subsequent blast caused nearby oxygen tanks to explode as well.

However, the fire was successfully extinguished on Sunday morning, according to the statement.

The firm that runs the industrial park said it was "deeply saddened" by the disaster and said the remains of several identified victims had been flown home, according to AFP.

The island is a hub for the mineral-rich country's production of nickel, which is a base metal used for electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel.

Additionally, Beijing's growing investment has stoked unrest over working conditions at its facilities.

Previously, in January, two workers including a Chinese national were killed at a nickel smelting plant in the same industrial park after a riot broke out during a protest over safety conditions and pay.