The Associated Press
NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. — An explosion rocked a small chemical plant in West Virginia’s northern panhandle, killing two workers and injuring another, the plant’s office manager said Thursday.
Theresa D’Aurora, the office manager at the plant owned by AL Solutions Inc., confirmed that two employees died in Thursday’s explosion. She could not provide any other details.
She said that although the company handles chemicals, there have been no evacuations in the area. The company develops additives for the aluminum industry.
Ken Kline, the chief financial officer for AL Solutions Inc., said the blast happened just before 1:30 p.m. at the Hancock County plant, which employs about 25 people. The blast happened in the main production building, he said.
“We’re trying to determine the extent of the damage and take care of our employees,” he said.
AL Solutions was formerly called Jamegy Inc. The company website says it also has a plant in Missouri.
In 2006, an explosion and fire at the West Virginia plant killed a worker in the production building.