Freedom Industries filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a court in the southern district of West Virginia, just eight days after a dangerous chemical leak in the state.
Up to 7,500 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM), a chemical used to wash coal, leaked from a tank at a Freedom facility upstream from the Kanawha Valley water treatment plant on Jan. 9.
Following the leak, some 300,000 residents and many businesses were advised not to usetap water for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing — and many were without water for around a week.
Tainted water smells like licorice and can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, rashes, and reddened skin. More than 100 people went to the hospital with reported symptoms.
Freedom Industries has been accused of negligence and causing a public nuisance in a number of lawsuits after the spill. The company is seeking protection from these lawsuits with their bankruptcy filing.
SEE ALSO: West Virginians Are Freaking Out About The Real Health Effects Of The Chemical Spill