An explosion occurred at the I. Schumann & Co. building, a metal alloy factory near Oakwood, Ohio, metals plant on Monday, causing a scattering molten metal and debris that rained down on neighbouring buildings, killing one person and injuring at least a dozen others, officials, witnesses and a media report said.

13 people were taken to local hospitals after an explosion and one has since been confirmed to have died.

Oakwood Fire Department Captain Brian DiRocco addressed the media on scene earlier on Monday, saying 13 people were taken to hospital, many of them with burn wounds, and one more was being treated on site.

At least one was in critical condition, and one was pulled from the debris, DiRocco had said. All of those injured were on site, the falling debris having spared those at neighbouring businesses.

A spokeswoman for Cuyahoga County confirmed later that a 46-year-old man had died, according to the New York Times.

“The people were mostly walking wounded,” DiRocco said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of people that work here that were in shock.”

The cause was unknown, and damage to the plant was “significant,” the company said.

“We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio, where we have been operating for more than 100 years,” I. Schumann and Co., which produces copper, brass and bronze alloys, said in a statement.

The explosion was about 70 miles (112 km) northwest of East Palestine, Ohio, where earlier this month a train loaded with toxic chemicals derailed, causing a fire that sent a cloud of smoke over the town and forced thousands of people to evacuate.