MACEDONIA, Ohio — The City of Macedonia said officials are continuing to clean up the Macedonia Royal Chemical plant after an explosion Wednesday, which injured three people.

What You Need To Know

  • One of the three people injured is still in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, officials said

  • Officials said a tanker truck was being loaded with highly caustic sodium chloride, which then exploded around 11:40 a.m.

  • The cause of the explosion is under investigation

Officials said a tanker truck was being loaded with highly caustic sodium chloride, which then exploded around 11:40 a.m.

First responders said sodium hydroxide isn't flammable, but it's corrosive and can burn the skin. The explosion shut down South Freeway Drive in both directions and forced the evacuation of the facility. 

The blast was so powerful that half of the tanker was torn in half and part of it ended up inside the building. 

The Summit County HazMat team contained the chemical spill on Wednesday, and Cleveland-based EnviroServe is executing the rest of the cleanup.

One of the three people injured is still in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, officials said. 

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 

“They've been in our city for 30 or 40 years, and we've been here before and incidents, and they have a good safety record," said Brian Ripley, fire chief of the Macedonia Fire Department. "So the investigation will tell us what happened, and they'll make changes if necessary.”

Ripley added there is nothing in the air, and anyone who lives in or passes through the area is safe. 

Cleveland-based EnviroServe is implementing the site cleanup and recovery plan approved and overseen by Ohio EPA.

Spectrum News 1 Photojournalist Chloe Magill contributed to this report.

Related Stories