13 killed in blast at China-owned nickel plant in Indonesia

PALU: A smelting furnace exploded Sunday at a Chinese-owned nickel plant on Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing at least 13 workers and injuring dozens of others, police and a company official said. It was the latest of a series of deadly incidents at nickel smelting plants in Indonesia that are part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Two dump truck operators were killed when they were engulfed by a wall of black sludge-like material following the collapse of a nickel waste disposal site in April. In January, two workers were killed in riots that involved workers and security guards at an Indonesia-China joint venture in North Morowali regency.