West Virginia Plant Leak Kills 2, Hospitalizes 19

0:00It's April 22nd. This is California News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. A chemical leak at a West Virginia plant has turned deadly, claiming two lives, and sending 19 people to the hospital. This happened at the Catalyst Refiners Facility in Institute on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026. Workers were prepping to shut down part of the plant, when nitric acid mixed with another substance and sparked the violent reaction. People say it overreacted in an instant, releasing dangerous gas across the site. Among those hurt were seven ambulance crews who rushed in to help, showing how fast things escalated for everyone involved. The community is reeling from the sudden tragedy in an area already familiar with industrial risks. Emergency management is still piecing together the full details, but investigations are underway to figure out exactly what went wrong. No word yet on long-term effects or safety changes. Stay tuned as more comes to light on this one. It's a stark reminder to keep pushing for better protections in these high-stake spots.