Ohio officials on Wednesday said an explosion at a chemical tank at a North Toledo company released a chemical into the air overnight and prompted an evacuation of nearby residents.Glycol methacrylate, an industrial coating product, was released into the air after Tuesday night’s explosion, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told reporters.
One person, a first responder, was injured and taken to the hospital, he added, but officials believe the injury is not serious.Officials do not know what caused the explosion.
An employee at the company — MC Tank Terminal — called 911 to alert authorities to the explosion, Kapszukiewicz said.He added that the company is headquartered in Arkansas, but that executives are en route to Toledo to assess the situation.
Kapszukiewicz explained that when the chemical was released in the explosion, it became a gas, but when it settles back into the tank, it will turn back into a liquid.Dense fog and haze hindered visibility in the city of about 265,000 people, and local news stations reported smelling a plastic-like odor.
“That is the chemical whose plume we are monitoring, and we are concerned enough about the health impacts to have taken two actions overnight,” the mayor said.The city had already issued an evacuation order last night for everyone living within a half-mile of the incident — about 300 people.
It was later expanded to a one-mile radius, upping the number of those who needed to evacuate to almost 1,000.All residents who live within a three-mile radius have been put under a shelter-in-place order and have been instructed to keep windows shut, Kapszukiewicz said Wednesday.
As far as city officials know, all residents have been evacuated, they said Wednesday.He did not say when those orders will be lifted.
Residents should check with local businesses and schools within the evacuation zone to see what plans are for Wednesday.Some schools were closed Wednesday, and others delayed opening.
There is still concern...