(Bloomberg) — General Motors Co., which has recalled millions ofcars this year to fix faulty parts, said one person died and eightwere taken to the hospital after a chemical explosion at a factorynear Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Emergency officials received a call at about 1:50 p.m. localtime yesterday about a blast at GM's metal-stamping facility inMarion, said Cliff Sessoms, the city's deputy police chief, in atelephone interview. He confirmed the fatality and said eightpeople were injured.

A “contract team member” died when a “small chemical explosion”occurred, Bill Grotz, a spokesman for GM, said in an e-mailedstatement. Four people were hospitalized with non-life-threateninginjuries and four others were taken to the hospital and ultimatelyrequired no treatment, he said.

The Marion Metal Center provides blanks, stampings andsheet-metal assembly for cars, vans, trucks and SUVs to GM assemblyplants throughout North America and employs more than 1,600 people,according to the company's website. GM, based in Detroit, said thesituation is under control and an investigation into the incidentis under way.

“When the explosion occurred, employees were evacuated and firedepartment and other emergency personnel responded quickly,” Grotzsaid. “Our condolences and deepest sympathies go to our teammember's family and colleagues.”

Specialty Chemicals

Quaker Chemical Corp., a maker of specialty chemicals based inConshohocken, Pennsylvania, said in a separate statement that theworker who died was one of its employees.

“Our heartfelt sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with thisemployee's family and the other injured workers and theirfamilies,” Quaker Chemical Chief Executive Officer Michael F. Barrysaid in the statement. “We will work with GM and governmentagencies to understand what occurred.”

Quaker Chemical provides inventory management and other contractservices at the automaker's plant, according to the statement.

GM, which had said it planned to resume work at the plant lastevening, said in a late statement yesterday that the third shiftwas canceled except for maintenance and shipping drivers. Thecompany said it expects first-shift employees to report to work attheir normal time today.

GM also said that the workers held at the hospital forobservation have been released.

The incident occurred as GM is under scrutiny for taking morethan a decade to recall 2.59 million flawed Chevy Cobalts and othersmall cars linked to at least 13 deaths. The company earlierreported a 1% increase in U.S. auto sales for the month of Juneafter analysts had predicted a drop of 6.3%.

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