Dover, April 18: A large hydrochloric acid spill early today at an east-central Ohio plant that makes chemical additives spawned a massive vapour cloud that took hours to dissipate, officials said.

No injuries were reported.

More than 102,203 litres of hydrochloric acid leaked from a storage tank into a retention basin at Dover Chemical

Corporation around 12:30 am, Dover Fire Chief Brooks Ross said.

The leak was contained onsite, but a vapour cloud developed and lingered for more than five hours after the leak was discovered, Ross said.

“It was a large spill, and it was a huge vapor cloud that covered a large area.” Ross said it was fortunate the leak occurred overnight because the company is located near heavily travelled Interstate 77, and the area is heavily populated.

Police and fire officials described the cloud as a minor irritant. Five hours after the leak, Ross said the cloud was limited to the spill site.

The company pumped the spilled hydrochloric acid out of a diked area into tankers and other tanks to limit vaporizing, Dover Chemical vice president of operations Tom Freeman said. Firefighters used a vapor suppressant foam to help trap any vapours.

There were no evacuations, and police said area residents were warned to keep doors and windows closed.

“What occurred is not acceptable, and we are very sorry this happened,” Freeman said in a statement. “We will also do a thorough investigation of why the leak occurred and will put appropriate corrective actions in place to prevent reoccurrence.” Dover Chemical, located about 45 minutes south of Akron, is a subsidiary of New York-based ICC Industries Inc.