A chemical emergency has sparked roads closures near a Boeing facility after a tanker truck spilled thousands of gallons of toxic nitric acid.
The incident in St Louis was triggered by a mechanical failure, releasing more than 4,500 gallons of the corrosive substance around 9am CT (10am ET).
Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing liquid commonly used in industrial and chemical processes. When inhaled, it can severely irritate or burn the lungs.
The chemical can cause a yellowish cloud to form if spilled, which locals reported seeing over the Boeing site on the 100 block of McDonnell Boulevard, near Lambert International Airport.
The Hazelwood Police Department warned locals that the road is closed between Lindbergh Boulevard and Byassee Drive, which is directly north of the airport that serves over 41,000 passengers daily.
Hazelwood Fire Chief Dan Luley said the cleanup would take several hours, with firefighters working in extreme heat and wearing heavy suits to protect them from the chemical. No injuries have been reported at this time.
A Boeing spokesperson said: ‘The safety of our employees is our first priority.
‘The Hazelwood Fire Department and Boeing responded to an incident outside one of our facilities and the situation was safely resolved.’
This is a developing story… More updates to come
Hazmat crews rushed to a Boeing facility in St Louis after thousands of gallons of nitric acid spilled into the streets
Nitric acid can cause a yellowish cloud to form if spilled, which locals reported seeing near a Boeing facility on the 100 block of McDonnell Boulevard, near Lambert International Airport
