Chemical leak prompts entire Ohio town to be evacuated

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A chemical leak in an Ohio town has prompted officials to evacuate hundreds of residents.

There was a large release of nitric acid at a powder plant near the village of Zaleski Wednesday morning, WSYX reported, citing local emergency official Robert Czechlewski.

A tank with a 5,000-gallon capacity had a leak, which caused the nitric acid to release. Around 3,000 gallons of nitric acid was released, The Telegram News reported, citing officials. It’s unclear what caused the leak.

The plant, located in McArthur, makes explosives for mining and construction, according to WBNS.

A chemical leak in an Ohio town has prompted officials to evacuate residents (Ohio EPA)

Residents of Zaleski, about an hour and 30 minutes’ drive southeast of Columbus, were evacuated as a result. According to the World Population Review, Zaleski has a population of just 216 residents.

The Vinton County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook Wednesday morning, “A shelter has been setup at the Vinton County High School for those with no where to go.”

Czechlewski said that when the nitric acid was released, it created a chemical reaction, causing a plume of nitric oxide that looked like a red cloud, WOWK reported.

Czechlewski said situations like this typically last for a few hours, and that it is dependent on wind conditions. He said the plume is heading northeast.

Once the leak is contained, the Environmental Protection Agency said it will monitor the air quality, according to WOWK.

The Ohio EPA wrote on Facebook Wednesday afternoon the release of the chemicals has stopped and no injuries have been reported.

A spokeswoman for the plant said that all of its employees are safe, per The Telegram News. Most workers were temporarily sent away, while some stayed back to do assessments. The plant has canceled production for the rest of the day.

Senator Jon Husted, an Ohio Republican, wrote on X Wednesday afternoon, “My team and I are closely monitoring the chemical leak in McArthur and remain in contact with federal, state, and local authorities on the situation.

Please stay safe, follow local guidance, and reach out to my Columbus office if we can help.”