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Two dead, dozens affected after chemical release at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, W.Va., prompts shelter-in-place orders

Police block a road near a chemical plant where a leak occurred Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Institute, W.Va. (AP Photo/John Raby)

INSTITUTE — A chemical incident at a facility in Kanawha County on Wednesday left two people dead, sent multiple individuals to area hospitals and prompted temporary shelter-in-place orders for nearby communities, officials said.

The incident occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m. at Catalyst Refiners in Institute, where crews were working to shut down operations and conduct cleaning and decontamination activities, according to county officials. During that process, a chemical reaction led to the release of hazardous gas, authorities said.

Kanawha County Commission President Ben Salango said emergency responders were dispatched within minutes, with a one-mile shelter-in-place order issued around the facility as a precaution.

“Our first priority has been and remains the protection of life safety and public health,” Salango said during a press conference.

Officials said 21 people were affected, including workers and emergency responders. Two individuals died as a result of the incident, and at least one person was reported in critical condition. Several others were treated or evaluated at local hospitals, including emergency medical personnel exposed while responding.

Kanawha County Emergency Management Director C.W. Sigman said the release was caused by a “violent reaction” between chemicals during the cleaning process.

Employees at the plant used respirators to pull affected workers from the area before first responders arrived, Sigman said, adding that emergency crews began lifesaving efforts immediately upon reaching the scene.

Shelter-in-place orders were initially issued for a one-mile radius, with alerts sent through emergency sirens, wireless notifications and local systems. Nearby schools also voluntarily sheltered in place as a precaution, though some were outside the official zone.

By mid-afternoon, all shelter-in-place orders had been lifted, though work continued at the site and West Virghinia 25 remained closed in the immediate area, Sigman said.

Authorities said air monitoring was conducted around the facility, and no off-site exposure affecting the general public had been confirmed. Officials also said there was no impact to local water systems.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said state agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Division, the Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection, were assisting with the response and cleanup. According to a release, Morrisey was scheduled to meet with officials from Kanawha County, Wednesday evening.

“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our citizens,” Morrisey said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she was monitoring the situation and urged residents to follow guidance from officials.

Investigations into the incident are expected from multiple agencies, including state and federal regulators. Officials said the situation remains under review as crews continue to assess the facility.

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