West Virginia chemical plant explosion spurs stay-inside order

BELLE, W.Va. — An explosion at a West Virginia chemical plant on Wednesday night prompted authorities to order residents within 2 miles of the plant to remain indoors.

Details about the incident and whether anyone was injured weren’t immediately released.

Explosion at the Belle Plant. There’s a shelter in place. @wvgazettemail pic.twitter.com/lyZHVaCimb

— Kenny Kemp (@kennykempWV) December 9, 2020

Emergency officials announced a shelter-in-place order around the Chemours plant in Belle and a nearby road was closed.

WATCH: Aerial footage shows a fire at the Chemours plant in Belle following an explosion. Officials say the situation has stabilized since the video was taken.

(Video courtesy of Aaron Spencer) pic.twitter.com/AcSOgWXGBy

— Eyewitness News (@wchs8fox11) December 9, 2020

“We’ve had at least one very serious explosion and a working fire at the plant,” Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper told WCHS-TV.

Chemours formed as a spinoff from DuPont in 2015. The plant is located along the Kanawha River in eastern Kanawha County.

SHELTER IN PLACE WARNING for 2 mile radius from 901 West Dupont Ave at Belle in Kanawha County. pic.twitter.com/flI4Ol1nLl

— Andy Chilian (@ChiliWX) December 9, 2020

HYSPLIT ensembles for #WVwx #VAwx #Fire #Kanawha #DuPont #Explosion

See @NWSCharlestonWV for latest and most accurate information pic.twitter.com/EW76Hhxf9e

— Eric Allen (@THE_Eric_Allen) December 9, 2020