An explosion that occurred on Saturday at a nickel processing plant financed by China on the island of Sulawesi in eastern Indonesia caused 13 deaths and injured 46 others.

Sulawesi Island forms a major center for nickel production, a metal primarily used in the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries and stainless steel. Beijing has heavily invested in these factories, but working conditions and safety face continuous criticism.

Didie Kurniawan, spokesperson for the industrial area, stated in a statement that the incident took place on Saturday evening at the Indonesia Qingshan Stainless Steel company plant in the Morowali industrial complex in Sulawesi.

The spokesperson explained that the explosion resulted in 13 deaths, including nine Indonesians and four Chinese, noting that 46 other people were injured, most due to exposure to hot steam.

Twenty-nine injured were admitted to a government-run hospital in the Morowali area, while 12 others were under observation in a clinic within the industrial complex, and five people are receiving outpatient treatment.

He clarified that initial investigations show the explosion occurred during furnace repair work. Fires broke out in a flammable liquid and spread to oxygen tanks, and the fire was extinguished before Sunday noon, according to the statement.