8 employees treated for injuries after eruption at EVRAZ in Pueblo

Eight EVRAZ Rocky Mountain employees were treated Saturday and Sunday for injuries following what an official called "an eruption inside the electric arc furnace" at EVRAZ's steel mill in Pueblo on Saturday evening.

Five of the victims were released overnight, three remain hospitalized including one who is being treated in a Denver area burn unit.

It was previously reported that seven employees were injured.

David Light, vice president of operations at the Pueblo location, said the eruption was caused by water getting into the electrical furnace, causing pressure to build and ultimately erupt.

Several news outlets, including KOAA  reported that three of the seven were still in the hospital in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon.

The employees were reportedly treated for dust inhalation, bruises and cuts.

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Pueblo Fire Department Training Officer and Public Information Officer Capt. Woody Percival said Pueblo Fire Department responded to the call Saturday evening to aid EVRAZ's fire department.

"We did respond out there, as typical with mutual aid response," Percival said. "We were on scene for a bit. The scene was stabilized pretty quickly. We've already cleared (the scene)."

The incident remains under investigation.

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Luke Lyons is the news director at The Pueblo Chieftain. He can be reached via email at LLyons@chieftain.com.