A violent chemical reaction at a Catalyst Refiners facility in Institute, West Virginia, killed two people and hospitalized approximately 30 others early Wednesday morning.
Emergency responders were alerted to the silver recovery business just before 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday when officials reported a release of hydrogen sulfide gas.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey stated that the incident has claimed two lives and left several individuals in critical condition, emphasizing the need for prayers for those affected. “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,” he said.
According to a statement from Kanawha County Emergency Management, state agencies including the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Division, the Department of Health, and the Department of Environmental Protection are collaborating with county officials. The incident occurred during cleaning operations at the Ames Goldsmith Catalyst Refiners facility, where preliminary information indicates that a chemical reaction created hydrogen sulfide.
Ben Salango, president of the Kanawha County Commissioners, told reporters that the site was “shutting down operations” and decontamination efforts were underway when the incident happened. “At this time it is believed that a chemical reaction occurred during that cleaning process that created hydrogen sulfide,” he said.
Hydrogen sulfide, a flammable gas with a rotten egg smell, can be lethal with just a few breaths at high concentrations and cause health issues such as eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue with prolonged exposure at lower levels.
County officials reported that air and water tests in Institute, Dunbar, Nitro, and St. Albans showed no chemical threats to the public. A mile-wide shelter-in-place order was issued but lifted after the initial incident.
The Ames Goldsmith Corporation confirmed that the two fatalities included two “colleagues” and a third person is being treated at a hospital.