BREAKING: Explosion at Chemical Plant in Ohio

Late Wednesday morning, a serious incident went down at the Royal Chemical Company in Macedonia.

Parked out front of the factory was a tanker truck that exploded.

One person ended up with life-threatening burns but, good news, they’re expected to pull through.

Macedonia’s firefighters rushed to the scene around 11:40 a.m.

As for what caused the blast, well, that’s still under investigation.

As is the liquid that was pouring out of the factory right after the explosion.

It’s been reported that it’s sodium hydroxide and it leaked into a nearby creek.

Summit County Hazmat is working on containment.

But officials say “the water is fine.”

If I were in Macedonia, I’d switch to bottled water ASAP.

Roads Closed Following Chemical Plant Explosion In Northeast Ohio https://t.co/f4pLwcjdZZ

— NewsTalk 1490 WERE (@newstalk1490) May 15, 2024

🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: OHIO CHEMICAL EXPLOSION INJURES 3

Three people were injured, one critically, after a chemical explosion at the Royal Chemical in Macedonia.

First responders found a torn tanker truck leaking liquid.

Sodium hydroxide reportedly leaked into a nearby creek. Summit… pic.twitter.com/tpCthXaN57

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 15, 2024

Yahoo News reports:

Ohio (WJW) — One person suffered life-threatening burns but is expected to be OK after what a fire official called “a tragic industrial accident” at a Macedonia chemical plant late Wednesday morning.

Macedonia firefighters responded at about 11:40 a.m. to at Royal Chemical Company along South Freeway Drive — near Interstate 271 — for a report of a tanker truck explosion, Macedonia Fire Chief Brian Ripley told reporters Wednesday afternoon.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

“We know it involves sodium hydroxide,” which is highly corrosive but not flammable, Ripley said. “We’re not exactly sure what happened yet.”

Sodium hydroxide is a caustic chemical made of solid white crystals, which can burn eyes and skin, according to the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.

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Ripley said the tanker truck that exploded was parked next to two others outside the building, while it was being loaded. The driver of the truck parked in between the two others and was “sprayed with product,” suffering “critical, life-threatening burns” and was transported to a Cleveland hospital, he said.

Another person, a worker at the plant who ran inside after the explosion, was transported to the same hospital with “critical but non-life-threatening” injuries, Ripley said. Officials later learned the driver of the truck that exploded was also injured. He was being evaluated Wednesday afternoon, he said.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, officials said all three people injured are expected to be OK.

Both of the company’s buildings were evacuated.

Footage sent back from SkyFOX showed a truck whose tank appeared to have been ripped open. Ripley said half of the tank ended up inside the building.

Ripley said fire officials believed some of the chemical was released into a small creek on the east side of the Royal Chemical facility, but officials later confirmed that the waterways haven’t been affected.