A violent chemical reaction at a West Virginia plant has killed two people and hospitalized approximately 30 others. Emergency responders were called to Catalyst Refiners, a silver recovery business in Institute, Kanawha County, just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Kanawha County officials confirmed the incident involved a hydrogen sulfide release following an industrial chemical reaction at the facility. The deaths included two colleagues, with a third individual hospitalized and additional employees receiving medical evaluations as precautionary measures.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey stated, “We really need prayers tonight coming out of West Virginia for the individuals who lost their lives today and for an individual we know to be in serious condition and for everyone who has been affected by today’s incident.” He emphasized that state agencies—including the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Division, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection—were collaborating with Kanawha County Emergency Management to address the situation.
Ben Salango, president of the Kanawha County Commissioners, reported that the incident occurred during cleaning and decontamination activities when the facility was temporarily shutting down operations. “At this time it is believed that a chemical reaction occurred during that cleaning process that created hydrogen sulfide,” he said.
Hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas with a rotten egg smell, can cause death within minutes of high exposure and lead to eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue at lower concentrations over time. State officials confirmed water and air tests in Institute, Dunbar, Nitro, and St. Albans showed no public health threat after the incident, lifting a mile-wide shelter-in-place order issued Wednesday morning.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is assisting with cleanup efforts and disposing of contaminated materials. Residents were advised to follow safety guidelines issued by Kanawha County Emergency Management until further notice.
