Workers were pushing coke out of huge ovens and preparing for maintenance when an explosion rocked a US Steel plant outside Pittsburgh, a company executive said Tuesday, a day after the blast killed two workers.

Rescuers were continuing to search for one missing worker at the Clairton Coke Works more than five hours after mid-morning explosions rocked the Mon Valley plant. The blasts killed one person and injured 10.

The explosion, followed by several smaller blasts, could be felt in the nearby community and prompted county officials to warn residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond.