KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two people were killed and 19 others were hospitalized following a chemical leak at an industrial plant in Kanawha County on Wednesday, officials said.
The leak happened at Catalyst Refiners, a silver recovery facility in Institute.
Emergency management officials said the incident occurred as workers were preparing to shut down part of the plant when a chemical reaction took place involving nitric acid and another substance. The reaction produced hydrogen sulfide, a hazardous gas.
Officials with the Kanawha County Commission confirmed the two deaths and said at least one person remains in critical condition.
A shelter-in-place order was issued around 9:53 a.m. for areas within a one-mile radius of the facility, including parts of West Virginia State University and nearby communities. The order was later lifted.
Authorities said a large-scale decontamination operation was required, and those exposed to the chemical leak had to remove their clothing and be decontaminated.
Ames Goldsmith Corp., the company that owns the plant, said in a statement it is cooperating with local, state and federal agencies as the investigation continues.
The names of the victims have not been released.
