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Worker injured in magnesium fire at Machida factory dies

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A 42-year-old worker who was one of eight men seriously injured after a fire broke out at a metalworking plant in Machida on May 13, died of his burns and other injuries on Monday.

Officials of the Shibata Tekuramu plant which was destroyed by the fire said that Masaki Chida died early Monday. One other employee, a 63-year-old man, remains in a coma, TV Asahi reported.

The fire raged for more than 48 hours after a spark from a soldering iron started the fire. Firefighters had to spray sand on the fire; they could not use water because magnesium was burning and water combined with scorched magnesium can cause an explosion.

The fire destroyed over 1,400 square meters of the 2-floor facility. The plant manufactures parts for computers and cell phones. The first floor warehouse of the facility stored approximately 80 kilograms of magnesium and 20 kilograms of aluminum.

According to police, a spark from a soldering iron started the fire at around 4 p.m., Fuji TV reported.

Firefighters have been spraying sand on the blaze and using water to keep the surrounding buildings from catching fire.

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Poor guy. Struggles with horrific burns for two weeks and then dies. Two weeks of pain... RIP

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