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 at least part of the facility, Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said.
A chemical gas reaction occurred at the plant involving nitric acid and another substance, Sigman said, speaking at a news briefing. He added that there was 'a violent reaction of the chemicals and it instantaneously overreacted.'
'Starting or ending a chemical reaction are the most dangerous times,' Sigman said.
Among the injured were seven ambulance workers responding to the leak, officials said. Other people were taken to the hospitals in private cars or even in one case a garbage truck, Sigman said.
One person was in critical condition, Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said. Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center, one of several hospitals in the area, was treating multiple patients, some brought by ambulance, while community members were arriving asking to be checked.
Witte said patients were experiencing respiratory symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and itchy eyes. They were being evaluated in the emergency room.
WVU Medicine Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston reported caring for a dozen patients, including eight who arrived by personal vehicle and were not at the scene but were in the area at the time. Officials stated that none of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area and lifted more than five hours later. All the deaths and injuries occurred on the plant site.
The leak required a large-scale decontamination operation in which individuals had to remove their clothes and be sprayed down, authorities confirmed.
Catalyst Refiners works to extract silver from chemical processes and can find thousands of dollars worth of the precious metal through meticulous cleaning.
Ames Goldsmith Corp., the plant's owner, expressed condolences, stating, 'This is an unfathomably difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families.' They pledged to cooperate with local, state, and federal officials in the investigation.
The facility is located near Institute, about 10 miles west of Charleston, within an area historically known for chemical production, although many plants have since closed or changed ownership.
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Jeffrey Collins contributed to this report from Columbia, South Carolina.
