Nitric acid leak at Ohio chemical plant triggers mass evacuations
Chemical leak at explosives facility triggers evacuations in southern Ohio
A nitric acid leak at a chemical plant in Vinton County, Ohio, prompted emergency evacuations on Wednesday, June 11, according to officials. (Credit: Edeth Conner via Storyful)
VINTON COUNTY, Ohio - Emergency evacuations are underway in Vinton County, Ohio, after a nitric acid leak at a chemical plant Wednesday.
What we know:
According to Storyful, the leak happened at the Austin Powder Plant after crews discovered nitric acid leaking from a storage tank around 8:30 a.m. local time based on local reports citing officials.
The chemical is corrosive and is "extremely dangerous" to breathe in, leading to mandatory evacuations of hundreds of residents.
The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office said evacuations were ordered in the Village of Zaleski and surrounding roads, with closures throughout the region.
The plume was contained within Vinton County, with no indication that it had spread beyond the county, according to the Athens County Emergency Management Agency.
A spokesperson for the Austin Powder Plant told The Telegram that all plant employees were safe.
The Source: The information for this story comes from local reports cited by Storyful, statements from the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, and updates from the Athens County Emergency Management Agency. This story was reported from Los Angeles.