County officials in Belle, West Virginia, lifted a shelter-in-place order for residents within a 2-mile (3.2-km) radius of a Chemours Co chemical plant after a “serious explosion” occurred at the plant.
“Emergency responders have evaluated the scene and have determined that an all clear can be issued,” the Kanawha County Commission said in a statement.
The shelter-in-place order had affected about 2,000 people, Jennifer Herrald, manager at the Kanawha County Commission, told Reuters.
Herrald did not comment on whether there were any casualties or injuries, and she did not know the cause of the explosion that occurred late Tuesday.
A local news outlet reported that at least two people were injured, citing Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper.
- Iran responds to U.S. ceasefire proposal as drones target Gulf nations
- 1st plane carrying hantavirus-hit cruise ship passengers leaves for Madrid
- ‘We have to take risks again’: Carney speaks at Toronto global summit
- Canada doubling down on work to reunite Ukrainian children ‘stolen’ by Russia: Anand
Get daily National news
Officials believed chlorinated dry bleach and methanol were the chemicals involved in the explosion, Carper told WCHS & WVAH television station.
Carper’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Responders were working to contain the fire and it was under control, Chemours said in an emailed statement.
Belle is about 12 miles (18 km) south of West Virginia state capital Charleston.
(Reporting by Derek Francis, Shubham Kalia and Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Pullin and Tom Hogue)
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.