The explosion at a chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia, United States, injured at least two people late Tuesday. Authorities ordered those living within 2 miles of the site to stay home while the fire was controlled, local authorities said.
The blast occurred at 10:00 p.m. local time (3:00 GMT Wednesday) at a Chemours plant, located in Belle, Kanawha County, about 10 miles east of Charleston, the state capital. Kent Carper, head of the county commission, reported two injuries, but did not specify their condition. One of them was in his car when he was hit by debris thrown by the explosion.
Carper said that while the causes of the incident are not definitive, the explosion and fire likely involved dry chlorinated bleach and methanol and that it began with a barge, apparently during unloading work on the Kanawha River.
In the early hours of the morning, the stay-at-home order was lifted and the Kanawha County Commission declared the situation “under control”; however the classes were suspended for this Wednesday in the surroundings of the place.
The Chemours Company issued a statement shortly after the blast, confirming that an unspecified “incident” at the plant “resulted in a fire” and that “site first responders” were working to contain the blaze, without offering further details. .
The Chemours plant was built as part of the DuPont Chemical Company in 2015 and is located on the banks of the Kanawha River.
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