By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A chemical leak at a silver recovery plant in Institute, West Virginia, killed two people and sickened about 30 others, including seven EMS providers.
• The incident occurred Wednesday at the Catalyst Refiners facility and produced toxic gas during a chemical reaction, authorities said.
• A shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area and later lifted.
• Federal, state and local agencies are investigating the cause and responding to the emergency.
INSTITUTE, WV — A chemical leak at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute, West Virginia, on Wednesday killed two people and sent about 30 others to hospitals, including seven emergency medical services providers, officials said.
Kanawha County emergency management officials said the incident occurred as workers were preparing to shut down part of the silver recovery facility when a violent reaction involving nitric acid and another chemical released toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.
Responding EMS and other first responders were among those hospitalized with respiratory and other symptoms, authorities said. Governor Patrick Morrisey praised responders at a news conference and said their conditions are being monitored.
Officials issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents that was lifted more than five hours later, and large-scale decontamination efforts were undertaken at the scene.
Federal, state and local investigators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, remain at the site and are assessing environmental impacts and cleanup needs.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation, which may take up to six months to complete, as authorities continue to gather facts about the chemical release.