NANJING - Twelve people have been confirmed dead after molten iron spilled out of a refining furnace at a steel plant in East China's Jiangsu province on Wednesday, with rescuers retrieving another body Thursday.

The accident occurred around 11:45 am Wednesday at a plant operated by the Nanjing Iron and Steel Group Co, Ltd, according to Zhang Binjie, deputy director of the Nanjing Municipal Work Safety Bureau.

Thirteen people were working to shut down the plant's No 5 furnace when the accident happened. A single worker was injured in the accident, but Zhang said his injury was not life-threatening.

"Due to high temperatures at the scene, it was difficult for rescuers to find the body of the last worker," Zhang said.

The cause of the accident is being investigated, Zhang said.