Body of worker recovered after cosmetics factory blast, fire

Authorities recovered the body of a male worker reported missing after two explosions and a fire at a New York cosmetics factory left 30 to 35 people injured, including seven firefighters caught in the second blast, officials said Monday.

Firefighters work at the scene of of a fire Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at the Verla International cosmetics factory on Temple Hill Road in New Windsor, N.Y. Authorities say two explosions and a fire at the cosmetics factory in the Hudson Valley have left numerous people injured, including firefighters caught in the second blast. (Jerry Barao via AP)

"A deceased male employee was recovered from the plant fire at approximately 7:40 p.m.," Orange County spokesman Justin Rodriguez said in a statement Monday night. He gave no additional details.

Police said the first explosion occurred around 10:15 a.m. Monday at the Verla International cosmetics factory in New Windsor, about an hour's drive from New York City. Firefighters who responded were inside when the second explosion occurred around 10:40 a.m.

Firefighters work at the scene of a factory fire in New Windsor, N.Y., Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. Authorities say two explosions and a fire at the Verla International cosmetics factory in the Hudson Valley about an hour north of New York City have left multiple people injured, including firefighters caught in the second blast. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Up to 35 people were being treated for injuries, including seven firefighters, most of them from the nearby city of Newburgh, Town Supervisor George Green said. Two of the firefighters were taken to the burn unit at Westchester Medical Center, he said. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.

There was no word on a cause of the blaze, which fire crews and hazardous materials teams were battling into the night.

Verla was cited for nine occupational safety violations earlier this year, according to records on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's website. One was related to problems with the handling of flammable and combustible liquids.

Firefighters work at the scene of a factory fire in New Windsor, N.Y., Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. Authorities say two explosions and a fire at the Verla International cosmetics factory in the Hudson Valley about an hour north of New York City have left multiple people injured, including firefighters caught in the second blast. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The federal agency also cited inadequacies relating to respirator protection for workers and the maintenance of exit routes. The company agreed to pay $41,000 in penalties.

Television video from Monday's explosions showed thick, black smoke spewing from a section of the roof of the sprawling facility, which includes manufacturing and warehouse buildings. Workers milled about a parking lot while fire crews looked on.

"It's still an active fire scene," Green said, adding that the flames were "knocked down pretty well at this point."

Firefighters work at the scene of a factory fire in New Windsor, N.Y., Monday, Nov. 20, 2017. Authorities say two explosions and a fire at the Verla International cosmetics factory in the Hudson Valley about an hour north of New York City have left multiple people injured, including firefighters caught in the second blast. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said state emergency response teams have been sent to the factory. State personnel dispatched included homeland security staffers, state police, environmental conservation enforcement officers and health department technicians, the Democratic governor said. The state also will investigate working conditions and regulatory compliance at the plant.

"Following today's chemical explosion, I am directing a multi-agency investigation to get to the bottom of what happened and review compliance with state labor and environmental laws," he said in a statement.

Firefighters work at the scene of of a fire Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at the Verla International cosmetics factory on Temple Hill Road in New Windsor, NY. Authorities say two explosions and a fire at the cosmetics factory in the Hudson Valley have left numerous people injured, including firefighters caught in the second blast. (Allyse Pulliam/Times Herald-Record via AP)

The factory is about a half-mile from the town hall and police station in New Windsor, on the Hudson River's west bank, 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of New York City. The 37-year-old New Windsor-based company's website says the products it makes include nail polish, perfumes, lotions and other products.

The company's phone number wasn't working. An email sent to the company wasn't answered.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) —

Firefighters stabilizing the burned-out husk of Copenhagen’s historic Old Stock Exchange tried to use giant shears on a crane Friday to cut away dangling scaffolding, but suffered a setback when the implement fell into the debris.

A large blaze broke out Tuesday at the 400-year-old landmark in Copenhagen, toppling its roof and iconic dragon-tail spire. On Thursday, a large section of the outer wall of the building collapsed inwards. The most valuable paintings and items inside had been saved from the flames, and no one was injured.

“A further building collapse is absolutely a possibility,” said Tim Ole Simonsen, a spokesman for the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department, adding that structural engineers were assessing how best to remove precarious remnants of scaffolding. “It is very difficult work.”

He later said the work was paused and "our efforts have taken a new turn,” after the powerful shears mounted on the end of a crane had fallen into the ruins of the building. There also were still small pockets of fire to extinguish and “tons” of debris to remove, he said.

Brian Mikkelsen, who head the Danish Chamber of Commerce that owns the 1615 building and was headquartered there, said 45% of the structure had been saved, and he underlined pledges made earlier in the week to completely rebuild the structure.

“ It will be rebuilt as it was,” Mikkelsen said as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen unexpectedly visited the site Friday afternoon to thank the firefighters, saying their quick response on Tuesday was “impressive” and to give “huge, huge respect.”

Frederiksen also supported the idea of rebuilding the Old Stock Exchange but said it was too early to say whether the government would take part in any financing.

“We need to get a better overview, like for instance the insurance money," Frederiksen said.

Tuesday’s blaze was believed to have started on the roof of the building, which had been wrapped up in scaffolding while the building was being renovated. The cause remained unclear, and police had yet to enter the burned part of the building to investigate.

The plans to remove the scaffolding was an attempt to salvage the unharmed part of the Copenhagen landmark. Firefighters said they could not say how long that would take, and adjacent streets were still closed for traffic.

No decision has yet been made about who will finance a reconstruction, a project that would cost millions, if not billions of kroner (dollars) and take years.

The exchange, known for its green copper roof and distinctive in the shape of four intertwined dragon tails, sits on the waterfront next to the Danish parliament. It is considered a leading example of the Dutch Renaissance architectural style in Denmark. The Chamber of Commerce moved into the building after Copenhagen’s stock exchange left in 1974.

The ruins is seen after the outer wall has collapsed in a fire in the historical building Boersen, the former Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday April 19, 2024. Copenhagen's mayor said Thursday she contacted her Paris counterpart to see what could be learned from the reconstruction of the Notre Dame cathedral in the French capital, after a fire devastated the Danish city's 400-year-old stock exchange building. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Fire rages from the dragon spire of the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The ruins after the outer wall has collapsed in a fire in the historical building Boersen, the former Stock Exchange in Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday April 19, 2024. Copenhagen's mayor said Thursday she contacted her Paris counterpart to see what could be learned from the reconstruction of the Notre Dame cathedral in the French capital, after a fire devastated the Danish city's 400-year-old stock exchange building. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The outer wall of the Stock Exchange has collapsed towards Boersgade, Copenhagen, Thursday, April 18, 2024. A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)