April 23 (UPI) — A chemical leak at a decommissioning plant in West Virginia has killed two people and left a third in critical condition, according to officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 30 people required medical treatment because of the leak Wednesday at Catalyst Refiners, a silver recovery plant in Institute, an unincorporated community west of Charleston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kanawha County Commissioners President Ben Salango told reporters at a press conference that workers were cleaning and decontaminating the site ahead of its shutdown when at about 9:31 a.m. EDT Wednesday a chemical reaction occurred, creating hydrogen sulfide, a flammable, colorless gas that can be fatal to those who breathe it, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twenty-one people at the site were initially reported by county officials to have either been transported to the hospital or sought medical attention, a number that West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey told reporters during a second press conference held Wednesday night had increased to more than 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“To the families we lost today, our hearts are with you and our state grieves with you,” Morrisey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We stand ready to support you in every possible way.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the injured were seven emergency ambulance employees who had responded to the scene, Kanawha County Emergency Management Agency Director C.W. Sigman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When I got there, firefighters and EMS were doing CPR on two of the patients, trying to revive them,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the hydrogen sulfide was the product of nitric acid and M2000A mixing while workers were decommissioning a tank on the site. Sigman explained he was told by the plant manager that it’s “not uncommon” for workers to mix the two together as part of the decommissioning work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But there was something going on that was different,” he said. “But that will be for the investigators to determine.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Officials said an investigation is ongoing and will involve local, state and federal agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A one-mile-radius shelter-in-place order around the plant that was issued has since been lifted and several roads that were closed have been reopened, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n