INSTITUTE, W.Va. (AP) — A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business on Wednesday killed two people and sent 19 others to the hospital, including one in critical condition, authorities said.
The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were preparing to shut down part of the facility, Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman reported.
A chemical gas reaction, reportedly involving nitric acid and another substance, caused a violent reaction that was intense and instantaneous according to Sigman during a news briefing. He emphasized that starting or ending a chemical reaction is particularly hazardous.
The incident also injured seven ambulance workers who were responding to the leak. Many others were transported to hospitals by private vehicles, with one instance involving a garbage truck.
One individual remains in critical condition, as stated by Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango. Patients at Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center were experiencing respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, sore throats, and itchy eyes as they were evaluated in the emergency room.
WVU Medicine Thomas Memorial Hospital reported that they cared for a dozen patients, including eight who were in the area but not directly involved in the incident. Fortunately, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Following the leak, a shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby residents and was lifted after five hours. Authorities confirmed that all deaths and injuries were confined to the plant site.
Sigman noted, 'You had to get really close to the facility to smell it,' suggesting that the leak required a large-scale decontamination effort where affected individuals had to remove clothing and be sprayed down.
Catalyst Refiners, which specializes in extracting silver from chemical processes, operates in a region referred to as West Virginia’s 'chemical valley.'
Ames Goldsmith Corp., the parent company of Catalyst Refiners, expressed sorrow over the incident, emphasizing their commitment to cooperate with authorities in the ongoing investigation. Company President Frank Barber described it as an 'unfathomably difficult time' for all impacted.
This incident raises significant questions about safety protocols and the historical presence of hazardous chemical operations in the area, with many previous facilities changing ownership or closing down over the decades.
