Chemical leak at West Virginia plant kills two people

Police block a road near a chemical plant where a leak occurred (John Raby/AP)

A chemical leak at a West Virginia silver recovery business killed two people and sent 19 others to hospital, authorities said.

The leak occurred at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were preparing to shut down at least part of the facility, Kanawha County commission emergency management director CW Sigman said.