The Instagrams From The West Virginia Water Crisis Are Like Something Out Of A Horror Movie

"It's been 84 hours since my last shower."

By
Ryan Broderick
by Ryan Broderick

BuzzFeed News Reporter

More than 300,000 people in West Virginia were ordered not to use tap water for days after a chemical spill contaminated the water supply.

The spill was originally discovered in the Elk River in Charleston, W.Va., last week.

On Friday, West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared a state of emergency.

The source of the contamination was 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol—a chemical used for cleaning coal–which leaked from a storage tank near a water plant in the area.

By Monday, the state began flushing local water systems.

The ban on tap water was lifted for a many parts of West Virginia by Tuesday.

Since the leak was discovered, 231 patients complaining of symptoms ranging from skin irritation and rashes to vomiting and diarrhea were seen in local hospitals.

While many are able to drink their tap water, there are many outlying areas in the state that have not been tested yet.

Governor Tomblin is calling for increased oversight to prevent this from happening again.

Since Thursday, 231 patients who complained of symptoms were seen at 4 different hospitals. Fourteen patients were admitted, and none are in critical condition.

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