Authorities say a chlorine leak in West Virginia that sent at least two people to a hospital is under control.Media reports say the leak was detected Saturday when emergency authorities said a chemical cloud from the Axiall Corp. plant headed south. Marshall County emergency officials say two people were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries.The U.S. Coast Guard says a portion of the Ohio River was closed near Proctor, West Virginia. It says the release of liquid chlorine was reported from a rail car at the plant. It says an unknown amount of the product was released into the ground and air, creating a plume traveling downriver.The leak caused W.Va. 2 to be shut down in the area and the evacuation of the Kent neighborhood.The company issued the following statement via its website:At approximately 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, a rail tanker car loaded with liquid chlorine developed a leak inside the Axiall Natrium chemical facility, which is located in Marshall County near Proctor, W.Va. The rail car is no longer leaking. Hazmat crews are on site and are evaluating the railcar and area of the leak. The Natrium plant was evacuated and is currently shut down.Nearby communities in Proctor and Kent, Ohio, and northern New Martinsville, W.Va. were evacuated and state highway 7 in Ohio and highway 2 in West Virginia, as well as the Ohio River, were closed to vehicle traffic. Nearby industrial plants were ordered to have their employees shelter in place.One Axiall employee and a contract worker were transported to offsite hospitals for treatment; others were treated at an onsite health facility."Get the WTAE Pittsburgh's Action News 4 App

Authorities say a chlorine leak in West Virginia that sent at least two people to a hospital is under control.



Media reports say the leak was detected Saturday when emergency authorities said a chemical cloud from the Axiall Corp. plant headed south. Marshall County emergency officials say two people were taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries.



The U.S. Coast Guard says a portion of the Ohio River was closed near Proctor, West Virginia. It says the release of liquid chlorine was reported from a rail car at the plant. It says an unknown amount of the product was released into the ground and air, creating a plume traveling downriver.



The leak caused W.Va. 2 to be shut down in the area and the evacuation of the Kent neighborhood.






The company issued the following statement via its website:

At approximately 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, a rail tanker car loaded with liquid chlorine developed a leak inside the Axiall Natrium chemical facility, which is located in Marshall County near Proctor, W.Va. The rail car is no longer leaking. Hazmat crews are on site and are evaluating the railcar and area of the leak. The Natrium plant was evacuated and is currently shut down.

Nearby communities in Proctor and Kent, Ohio, and northern New Martinsville, W.Va. were evacuated and state highway 7 in Ohio and highway 2 in West Virginia, as well as the Ohio River, were closed to vehicle traffic. Nearby industrial plants were ordered to have their employees shelter in place.

One Axiall employee and a contract worker were transported to offsite hospitals for treatment; others were treated at an onsite health facility."



