Massive Chemical Cloud Forces Mass Exodus as Toxic Leak Terrorizes Ohio Town

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Thousands flee as deadly nitric acid creates ominous orange plume over explosives factory

A catastrophic chemical disaster unfolded in southeastern Ohio today as thousands of gallons of highly corrosive nitric acid burst from a storage tank at an explosives manufacturing plant, creating a towering orange cloud of death that has forced an entire village to flee for their lives.

The terrifying incident erupted at approximately 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning at the Austin Powder Red Diamond plant in McArthur, when a 5,000-gallon tank containing the hazardous chemical suddenly ruptured, releasing 3,000 gallons of nitric acid into the atmosphere.

Shocking photographs captured by terrified residents show an enormous orange plume of toxic gas billowing into the sky, visible for miles around the industrial facility that produces explosives for mining and construction operations.

ENTIRE VILLAGE ORDERED TO RUN

In scenes reminiscent of a disaster movie, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office issued an “immediate evacuation order” for the entire village of Zaleski, home to approximately 750 residents who were given minutes to abandon their homes and flee the advancing chemical cloud.

“Get out NOW!” emergency dispatchers frantically told residents as the toxic plume spread across the rural Ohio countryside.

School buses were urgently dispatched to Saint Sylvester Catholic Church to rescue residents without transportation, while panicked families grabbed what they could and raced to escape the danger zone.

The mass evacuation extended far beyond Zaleski, with authorities ordering residents along Creek Road, Morgan Road, Infirmary Road, and State Route 677 to immediately abandon their properties.

PLANES GROUNDED AS TOXIC CLOUD SPREADS

The scale of the disaster became clear when the Federal Aviation Administration slapped an emergency 30-nautical-mile no-fly zone around the plant with a 23,000-foot ceiling, effectively grounding all aircraft within the restricted airspace.

The dramatic flight ban – equivalent to approximately 34.5 miles – shut down a massive swath of Ohio airspace as authorities scrambled to prevent aircraft from flying through the poisonous cloud.

DEADLY CHEMICAL THREATENS THOUSANDS

Nitric acid, the chemical now contaminating the Ohio air, is an extremely dangerous substance that “is acutely toxic and can be fatal if inhaled”, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Health officials warned that exposure to the nitric oxide cloud could cause severe irritation to eyes and nose, drowsiness, and even unconsciousness. The corrosive chemical can literally dissolve human flesh on contact.

This is an extremely hazardous situation,” emergency management officials warned, as the toxic cloud continued to spread across the region.

CHAOS AT EVACUATION CENTERS

Hundreds of evacuees poured into Vinton County High School gymnasium in McArthur, which was hastily converted into an emergency shelter as families arrived carrying children, pets, and whatever belongings they could grab in their rush to escape.

Emergency responders urged anyone who may have been exposed to the chemical to immediately flush their eyes and clean their skin, with health officials on standby to treat potential victims.

ROADS SHUT DOWN ACROSS REGION

The Ohio Department of Transportation announced emergency closures of state Routes 328, 677 and 278 as authorities established a wide perimeter around the contaminated zone.

Multiple fire departments and hazmat teams from across the region raced to the scene, though responders could only watch helplessly as the massive chemical cloud continued to pour from the ruptured tank.

NO END IN SIGHT

As of Wednesday afternoon, emergency officials warned the incident “remains active and could be a few hours before the area is cleared for residents” to return to their homes.

The cause of the catastrophic tank failure remains under investigation, with federal and state environmental agencies expected to launch a full inquiry into how 3,000 gallons of one of industry’s most dangerous chemicals was allowed to escape into the atmosphere.

Miraculously, no injuries have been reported from the chemical release, though the full health impacts may not be known for days or weeks.

COMPANY’S EXPLOSIVE HISTORY

Austin Powder, headquartered in Cleveland, operates the Red Diamond facility where today’s disaster occurred. The company manufactures industrial explosives used in mining and construction projects across the country.

The facility routinely handles massive quantities of hazardous chemicals as part of its explosives manufacturing process, raising urgent questions about safety protocols and emergency preparedness at the plant.

As night falls on Vinton County, hundreds of families remain in emergency shelters, not knowing when – or if – they’ll be able to return to homes now potentially contaminated by one of industry’s deadliest chemicals.

The full environmental impact of today’s disaster may not be known for years, as nitric acid can contaminate soil and groundwater, creating a toxic legacy that could haunt this Ohio community for generations.