Tragedy struck a West Virginia refinery on Wednesday morning when a chemical release claimed the lives of two individuals and sent 21 others to receive medical treatment. Emergency teams swiftly responded to the scene to manage the situation.

During a press briefing, Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango shared that the incident occurred around 9:31 a.m. at Catalyst Refiners in the Institute area. At the time, crews were in the midst of shutting down operations to carry out cleaning procedures.

“Initial reports suggest the facility was in the shutdown phase, with cleaning and decontamination activities underway,” Salango explained.

Authorities suspect that the incident was triggered by a chemical reaction during the process, which resulted in the release of hydrogen sulfide.

The chemical event in Kanawha County, West Virginia, not only resulted in fatalities but also left many injured, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

“Current evidence suggests that a chemical reaction during the cleaning process led to the production of hydrogen sulfide,” Salango stated.

Emergency response escalated quickly after the initial call. Metro 911 received a report of the release at 9:33 a.m., prompting the county to activate its Emergency Operations Center by 9:46 a.m., with first responders arriving on scene minutes later and a one-mile shelter-in-place order soon after.

“Emergency management, hazmat teams and first responders were immediately notified,” Salango said.

Police block a road near a chemical plant where a leak occurred Wednesday, in Institute, W.Va.  (AP Photo/John Raby)

Sirens were activated shortly after, followed by a wireless emergency alert sent to residents in surrounding communities, including Institute, Dunbar, Nitro and St. Albans, while nearby roads — including Routes 25 and 60 — were temporarily shut down as a precaution.

Kanawha County Schools also initiated shelter-in-place protocols at several campuses even though they were outside the official zone, a decision Salango said was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

A total of 21 people were treated or transported for medical evaluation, including five EMS workers exposed while responding. One person remains in critical condition.

“I am sad to report that two individuals have passed away as a result of the incident,” Salango said.

Officials said hazmat crews remain at the scene conducting air monitoring as teams prepare to safely enter the facility. Federal authorities have also been notified through the National Response Center.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said multiple state agencies are working alongside local officials to respond to the incident. The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Division, the state Department of Health and Department of Environmental Protection are coordinating with Kanawha County emergency management, with personnel stationed at the county’s command center.

“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens,” Morrisey said. “We are working around the clock with local officials to ensure this incident is contained and that all necessary state resources are on the ground to protect the community.”

State officials said a number of people are being treated at local hospitals and urged residents to continue following safety guidance issued by Kanawha County.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.