West Virginia: "Chemical Leak Forces Evacuations In Northern Panhandle"

"At least seven people were treated and several communities evacuated Saturday following an early morning leak of extremely toxic chlorine gas from a Northern Panhandle chemical plant with a recent history of significant safety problems.

An undetermined amount of chlorine leaked from a railcar at the Axiall Corp. plant at Natrium, along W.Va. Route 2 near the Marshall-Wetzel county line, according to local emergency officials, state authorities and a company statement.

The nearby communities of Proctor and Kent were evacuated, as was at least part of New Martinsville and part of the Ohio town of Hannibal as a cloud of gas moved south and then west. W.Va. Route 2 and Ohio Route 7 across the river were both closed, officials said."

Jake Jarvis and Ken Ward Jr. report for the Charleston Gazette-Mail August 27, 2016.