A blast and subsequent acid leak injured nine employees of an Indianapolis Rolls-Royce production plant Friday afternoon.
The spill released a wave of chemical aqua fortis at the plant in southwestern Indianapolis, the New York Daily News reported.
Toxic clouds of nitric acid burst out of a 250-gallon tank while workers were transferring goods at about 1:30 p.m.
Eight people working at Rolls-Royce's Plant Five sustained injuries from the explosion. They were all immediately transferred to IU Health Methodist Hospital and Eskenazi Hospital. According to the New York Daily News, they're said to be in fine health.
A ninth victim received treatment for wounds on-site.
No life-threatening injuries were reported, Wayne Township Fire Department Capt. Mike Pruitt told the Daily News.
"Their main complaints were that they had inhaled it and they had some acid burns," Pruitt said. "It's a corrosive acid."
Marion County Public Health Department officials were called to the site of the accident to check for acidity in the air, Fox's local station in the Indiana city reported.
It's unclear at this point what caused the explosion. Investigators are also looking into the specific amount of acid that was spilled.
All workers in the facility were evacuated after the blast occurred Friday afternoon. Shifts scheduled for the evening were canceled, and the factory's interior was scrubbed clean.
The facility is home to an airplane engine factory and research sites, the Daily News reported.
Nitric acid is an odorless, light yellow material that can burn the skin, eyes, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracks. If it comes in contact with certain materials, nitric acid can react explosively.
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