Chemical leak at a West Virginia plant kills 2 people and sends 19 more to hospital, officials say
The release of hydrogen sulfide forced a mile-wide shelter-in-place and a decontamination response, officials said.
- On Wednesday, a chemical leak at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, West Virginia, killed two people and hospitalized 21 others or sent them for on-site treatment.
- Kanawha County Commission Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said off-gassing from a tank containing nitric acid and m200A created a "violent reaction of the chemicals" during decommissioning.
- Seven Kanawha County EMS workers were among those treated for exposure to the toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, which prompted a mile-wide shelter-in-place order affecting West Virginia State University.
- Ames Goldsmith Corp., owner of Catalyst Refiners, expressed condolences to affected families as hazmat teams remained on-site conducting large-scale decontamination requiring clothing removal.
- Investigators are working to determine whether equipment or procedural failures contributed to the release, with officials promising updates as the condition of hospitalized individuals becomes clearer.
173 Articles
173 Articles
W.Va., federal agencies to investigate deadly Institute chemical leak, officials say
CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board have launched investigations into a chemical incident that killed two people and critically injured another person in Kanawha County Wednesday morning, officials say.
A chemical leak on Wednesday at the Catalyst Refiners plant left two people dead and at least 30 hospitalized, including emergency personnel, as confirmed by local authorities.The incident occurred at this facility dedicated to the recovery of silver, located in Institute, about 16 kilometers west of Charleston.The emergency forced the area to be confined for more than five hours and to deploy a large operation of decontamination and medical car…
The Billings Gazette
Chemical leak at plant kills 2 in West Virginia
INSTITUTE, W.Va. — A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business killed two people and sent 19 others to the hospital, including one in critical condition, authorities said.
Chemical leak at a West Virginia plant kills 2, sends 30 more to hospitals - OHS Canada Magazine
Police block a road near a chemical plant where a leak occurred Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Institute, W.Va. (AP Photo/John Raby) By John Raby A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business on Wednesday killed two people and sent about 30 others to hospitals, including one in serious condition, authorities said. The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were preparing to shut down at least part of th…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
