Chemical spill at West Virginia refinery results in 2 deaths and 21 injuries

Chemical Incident at West Virginia Refinery

In a troubling incident at a West Virginia refinery, two people lost their lives while 21 others required medical attention after a chemical release. This occurred early Wednesday morning, prompting emergency crews to quickly respond.

During a news conference, Kanawha County Commission Chairman Ben Salango noted that the situation was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m. at the Catalyst Refinery, where operational cleanup was underway. “Preliminary information suggests that the site is currently inactive, with cleanup and decontamination in progress,” Salango explained.

Authorities suspect a chemical reaction during cleaning led to the release of hydrogen sulfide. “At this stage, it looks like that’s what happened,” Salango remarked.

The emergency response was swift. Metro 911 received notifications about the release just two minutes after it occurred. By 9:46 a.m., the county’s emergency operations center had been activated, and first responders were on-site within minutes, implementing a one-mile shelter-in-place order shortly thereafter.

“We alerted emergency management teams, hazardous materials crews, and first responders immediately,” Salango said.

As the situation escalated, sirens rang out, and a radio alert reached residents in nearby areas, including Institute, Dunbar, Nitro, and St. Albans. Roads such as Routes 25 and 60 were also closed temporarily for safety.

Interestingly, even though some Kanawha County Schools were outside the official danger zone, they adopted shelter-in-place protocols as a precautionary measure. “We felt it was better to be safe than sorry,” Salango noted.

Of the 21 individuals transported for treatment, five were paramedics who were exposed while offering first aid. One person remains in critical condition. “We’re saddened by the loss of two lives due to this incident,” Salango acknowledged.

Hazardous materials teams continued to monitor air quality on-site while preparing to safely enter the facility. Federal authorities have also been notified through the National Response Center.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey stated that several state agencies are collaborating with local authorities in response to the incident. The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, along with the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection, are actively engaged with Kanawha County Emergency Management at the command center.

“Our main priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community,” Governor Morrissey said. “We’re dedicated to working with local authorities day and night to manage this incident and deploy necessary resources.”