Possible chemical leak forces Columbus evacuations
Possible leak of hazardous chemicals at Columbus plant forces evacuations
7/5/2014COLUMBUS, Ohio — Officials are evacuating an area around a Columbus plant amid concerns of a possible chemical leak.
According to WBNS-TV, hazardous material crews were called to the AkzoNobel Coatings Inc. plant in north Columbus shortly after 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
Fire officials say people who live within a half-mile radius of the plant are being evacuated because of the possible release of chemicals. The plant was also evacuated.
Officials have not yet specified what chemicals may be involved.
AkzoNobel is a Netherlands-based paints and coatings company that produces specialty chemicals. According to its website, the Columbus facility opened in 1954 and finished a $32 million expansion in 1996.