At about 12:35 p.m. on September 3, 2014, the coal storage facility of the No. 1 Coke Oven on the premises of Nagoya Works of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) caught fire causing explosions. A large quantity of black smoke was emitted and Tokai City announced emergency information for a while to urge the citizens to stay indoors. It is reported that 15 persons (11 NSSMC and 4 associated company employees) were injured by this accident. The fire died down at 3:33 a.m. on September 4. Aichi Prefectural Police and Fire Service Bureau of Tokai City began an investigation at the scene from the morning of 4th.

The blast furnace was totally shutdown to stop production as of 4th, while Nagoya Oxygen Center and the other facilities remain in operation supplying electricity and steam.

In the steel works there occurred accidents of black smoke emission twice in January and once each in June and July of this year. At those times blackout took place and the Nagoya Oxygen Center was shutdown, when there were facts that gas manufacturers came across difficulties to procure liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen for backup.

As there was no stoppage of electricity at this time, the gas production was not affected. However, supposing that heavy oil-fueled steam is supplied due to the current shutdown of the coke oven, further discontinuation of the blast furnace operation may cause some influences. It is also probable to cause fear of tight inventory of steel plates for the automobile industry.