WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) – Two people died following a chemical leak at a silver catalyst manufacturing facility in Kanawha County, West Virginia, on Wednesday, officials said.
The incident occurred at Catalyst Refiners in the unincorporated community of Institute, the county commission said in a statement posted on Facebook, adding that one person was in critical condition. About 20 others needed medical treatment.
“There will be national, state and local investigations about this chemical release,” Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said in a news conference.
Citing preliminary information, county officials said they believed a chemical reaction occurred, creating deadly hydrogen sulfide gas as a cleaning and decontamination process was underway in preparation for closure of the plant.
Ames Goldsmith Corporation owned the plant, Salango said. Frank Barber, the president of Ames Goldsmith Corporation, said those who died were employees of the company, ABC News reported, citing a statement.
The corporation did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker)
