A leak of liquid chlorine inside the Axiall Natrium chemical facility in the U.S. state of West Virginia has forced the plant to shut down, APA reports quoting Sputnik.
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The Natrium plant has experienced other accidents in the past, including a 2014 chemical explosion that killed one worker and a December 2015 a steam release that injured 11 workers. Those investigators are trying to determine why chlorine leaked from a rail auto docked at the plant on Saturday morning.
Marshall County emergency responders said the leak was reported at the Axiall plant in Proctor. Sign up for the Tom Temin email alerts! In addition, Axiall said, nearby industrial plants were ordered to have their employees shelter in place.Axiall said later Saturday that state police in OH and West Virginia as well as the U.S. Coast Guard had allowed highway and river traffic to resume. River traffic also was restricted but now is flowing again. Officials said tests later determined that the air quality in the area was safe.
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The company said hazmat crews evaluated the railcar and area of the leak that authorities estimated to be 26 miles long.
