Two individuals have lost their lives, and 19 others have been hospitalized due to a chemical spill at a facility in West Virginia.
The incident occurred following a sudden chemical reaction at the Catalyst Refiners plant, a silver recovery establishment in Institute. The event took place at approximately 9:30 am EDT on Wednesday, according to C.W. Sigman, the Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director.
The plant was undergoing cleaning and decontamination procedures as part of its shutdown process when a chemical gas reaction transpired involving nitric acid and another substance. This reaction generated hydrogen sulphide, a highly toxic gas, leading to a swift and intense chemical response, stated Sigman, emphasizing the perilous nature of initiating or concluding chemical reactions.
As per Ben Salango, the Kanawha County Commission President, one individual is in critical condition following the incident. Among the injured are seven ambulance personnel who responded to the spill. Some of the affected individuals were transported to hospitals in private vehicles, including a garbage truck, as noted by Sigman.
Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Centre, among the various medical facilities in the vicinity, is treating multiple patients affected by the spill. Patients have reported respiratory symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat, and itchy eyes, and are currently receiving evaluations in the emergency department.
A shelter-in-place directive was issued for the surrounding area but was lifted over five hours later. The decontamination process necessitated affected individuals to discard their clothing and undergo spraying down, as per authorities’ instructions.
Catalyst Refiners specializes in extracting silver from chemical byproducts and can recover significant amounts of the precious metal through routine cleaning practices, said Sigman.
Ames Goldsmith Corp., the parent company of Catalyst Refiners, expressed deep sorrow over the fatalities. In a statement, the company conveyed sympathy and support to the affected individuals and their families. Ames Goldsmith affirmed its commitment to collaborating with local, state, and federal entities in the investigative process.
The plant is situated near Institute, a community approximately 10 miles west of Charleston, the state’s capital.