Gamers are certainly familiar with “Silent Hill,” the creepy video game franchise (and subsequent film series) set in a mysterious fog-enshrouded town.
Following an accident at a chemical facility, the neighborhoods north of Toledo, Ohio suddenly resembled those of “Silent Hill” — albeit with the addition of potential exposure to toxic compounds.
A Huge Chemical Leak
The Associated Press reports that a tank ruptured at a chemical distribution site in Ohio’s Lucas County on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, causing an explosion that sent a massive plume of smoke-like chemical compounds into the air.
An evacuation order went into effect, forcing hundreds of residents from their homes over fears of the potentially toxic impact of the fumes, in addition to the possibility of another explosion.
In Toledo, more than 50,000 residents were urged to remain indoors as a precautionary measure.
According to AP, Toledo city leaders made the decision to let the chemical continue to vent instead of trying to stop the leak, which they said was a far more dangerous option.
Video taken on the scene on Wednesday morning, more than 14 hours after the tank began leaking, shows a sizeable plume of chemical smoke still flowing out of the tank.
Some residents reported experiencing irritation in their eyes and throats, with some seeking medical treatment.
In fact, city officials confirmed that a sheriff’s deputy who responded to the explsion later drove himself to a hospital because he felt ill.
An Industrial Chemical
Mark White Jr. resides within the affected area, and told AP he was sleeping with his windows open when he awoke to a smell he described as resembling burning plastic smell. Because he suffers from asthma, he opted to evacuate, and sought shelter at a nearby elementary school.
“I don’t know what this chemical can do to my lungs, long term or anything,” White explained.
According to MC Tank Transport, which operates the site, the ruptured tank contained glycidyl methacrylate, described as “an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better.”
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the leak occurred while the material was in the process of being transferred.
ProMedica, the health care provider that operates hospitals and urgent care centers throughout the Toledo area, told AP that it worked to evacuate approximately 30 people who reported symptoms possibly related to the chemical leak; most of those patients received treatment, and were then released.
Situation Steadily Improving
In a Wednesday afternoon update, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz described the current situation as being in a “holding pattern,” as reported by local TV station WTOL11.
According to Kapszukiewicz, city drones monitoring the site of the leak indicated that the situation had shown steady improvement, while the tank’s temperature had dropped noticeably and the amount of gas had noticeably decreased.
Despite the improving situation, residents in the area were still advised to exercise caution, given the inherent dangers of glycidyl methacrylate.
“It’s really toxic if you touch it, if you ingest it,” Karim Baroudi, director of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, told AP. “Now we’re trying to kind of determine how much of a toxicity is in the air that the people are breathing so we can give better guidance.”
Baroudi advised that windows be closed, and that those who “feel irritation in the eyes, heavily breathing, just take a shower for now.”
MC Tank Transport issued in a statement to confirm the company had been working with emergency authorities, including the fire department.
“Our immediate and overriding concern is the safety of area residents, emergency responders and our employees,” the company said in that statement.
Massive Chemical Leak Turns Ohio Suburbs Into Real-Life ‘Silent Hill’