CBRN

Two dead and dozens injured after chemical spill in West Virginia

WVU Medicine’s Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston, West Virginia, set up a decontamination entry at its emergency room for patients seeking treatment for the chemical incident. Dwight Slappe / West Virginia Watch

Two people have been killed and over 30 injured after a chemical spill at a manufacturing facility in Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA.

The incident occurred on Wednesday 22 April at 09:46 at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, Kanawha County, authorities said in a news release.

Kanawha County commission president Ben Salango said that 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 described the incident as "a violent reaction" that "instantaneously overcame" the workers. The two found dead at the scene when first responders arrived were workers at the plant.

Hydrogen sulphide gas

According to NBC News, more than 30 people sought medical treatment after the incident at the plant, which manufactures silver catalyst, including seven emergency medical service workers and some from the surrounding area.

The news release issued by Kanawha County revealed that the facility was in the process of cleaning and shutting down its operations. However, the reaction of the two chemicals is believed to have created hydrogen sulphide, a toxic, flammable gas.

A spokesperson for Ames Goldsmith Corporation, 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 incident prompted a shelter-in-place order at several schools and the closure of area roads, which were later lifted.

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