A chemical spill at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, West Virginia, involved a reaction between nitric acid and M2000A that produced hydrogen sulfide fumes, triggering a hazardous incident.

Two people died and nineteen others were hospitalized after the leak, with authorities confirming the incident occurred as workers prepared to shut down part of the plant.

Officials say the reaction that released the fumes happened during on-site preparations to shut down equipment, and the resulting hydrogen sulfide prompted a large emergency response.

Authorities continue investigations to determine the exact cause and full impact, with updates as new information becomes available.

Hazmat teams, local, state, and federal agencies, including OSHA, responded; shelter-in-place orders were issued and later lifted.

Governor Patrick Morrisey addressed the state’s response and safety concerns amid the emergency.

Metro 911 issued updates and helped coordinate safety measures, including lifting the shelter-in-place for St. Albans as monitoring continued.

First responders acted quickly, with some taking risks to reach affected workers and contain the incident.

News organizations and emergency management officials, including Kanawha County and the plant’s representatives, provided verified details as the story developed.

On-site containment and medical response were initiated, with investigations into the release anticipated but specific causes not disclosed in initial reports.

Road closures and detours were implemented around the St. Albans/Jefferson area during the incident, with motorists urged to avoid the affected routes.

Most of the spilled material remained contained inside a building, and the shelter-in-place remained precautionary as assessments continued.