10 hospitalized after chemical leak at Louisiana business

Ten people were taken to hospitals after a chemical leak at a business in southern Louisiana, including three first responders and seven workers from the area, according to officials.

The leak was reported shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday at a business on Lexington Drive in Duson, a town west of Lafayette, according to Louisiana State Police. KATC identified the business as FIBA Technologies.

State police said a valve malfunction involving boron trifluoride caused the leak at the facility. Nearby businesses were evacuated, and emergency personnel also issued shelter-in-place orders as a precaution.

The 10 people taken to local hospitals included three first responders, six employees from the affected business and one employee from a nearby business. Their injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening.

Hazardous materials crews later contained the leak, and all evacuation and shelter-in-place orders were lifted. State police said there were no immediate threats to the area.

Additional details about the valve malfunction and how much chemical was released were not immediately available.