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Two people died and one was in critical condition Wednesday after a “chemical release” at a West Virginia plant slated for closure, officials said.
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The incident occurred at 9:46 a.m. at Catalyst Refiners, Inc. Institute in Kanawha County, authorities said in a news release.
More than 30 people sought medical treatment after the incident at the plant, which manufactures silver catalyst, including seven EMS workers and some from the surrounding area, Deputy County Attorney Christopher Settles said.
The two dead were workers, Ames Goldsmith Corp. President Frank Barber said.
They were found dead at the scene when first responders arrived, Settles said.
Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said a chemical reaction occurred during a cleaning and decontamination process at the plant.
Two chemicals — M2000A and nitric acid — were mixed in a pump area while workers were decommissioning a tank, causing an explosion, Kanawha County Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman told reporters.
Sigman described the incident as “a violent reaction” that “instantaneously overcame” the workers.
The facility was in the process of shutting down its operations and cleaning the facility after the reaction created hydrogen sulfide, a toxic, flammable gas, according to the release.
A spokesperson for Ames Goldsmith Corp., which owns the plant, said that the facility was scheduled to be closed in June and Wednesday’s incident happened as workers were preparing for the closure.
The deadly chemical release prompted a shelter-in-place order at several schools and the closure of area roads, out of what the officials described as an abundance of caution. The orders were later lifted.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey said at a news conference later Wednesday that there was no known environmental risk to the public.
“Based upon all the information that that we have available right now, we don’t believe there have been compromises to the air quality or to the water supply,” Morrisey said. “That that’s been unaffected by this. That’s positive.”
Salango said that federal and state agencies are investigating the incident.
The state Department of Environmental Protection is responding and will assist in the safe disposal of waster materials generated during the cleanup Morrisey said. The state is also coordinating with the federal EPA, he said.
Morrisey said that the state was supporting the county in anything it needs in responding to the incident.
“I’ve said whatever they need, they’re going to get a phone call back and a very likely yes in a very short period of time,” he said.
The two workers who died were not immediately identified. Autopsies will be conducted, officials said.
Barber, the president of Ames Goldsmith Corp., said that the company is working closely with investigators. He said that the fumes were contained in one building.
“This is an unfathomably difficult time,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families.
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