At least 15 people were hospitalized following a potential chemical exposure at an Iowa prison on Wednesday.
Paul Cornelius, Chief of Staff for the Iowa Department of Corrections, confirmed the incident in a statement to WHO13. “Emergency protocols were activated today at Newton Correctional Facility following a potential chemical exposure incident on-site,” he said.
The Newton Fire Department and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office descended on the facility around 12:30 p.m. After reports of chemical exposure began circulating. The prison, which houses roughly 1,000 inmates across maximum- and medium-security wings, sits on approximately 1,500 acres several miles south of Newton.
A Newton fire official told KCCI that as many as 15 people were distributed among four hospitals across central Iowa. The exact total remained uncertain as of Wednesday evening.
UnityPoint Health officials provided some clarity on the patient distribution. Four people were taken to a hospital in Grinnell, while four others arrived at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines with non-life-threatening injuries, according to KCCI. A MercyOne spokesperson told the same outlet that nine additional patients were transported to medical facilities between Des Moines and Newton.
Whether the sickened individuals were inmates or employees of the prison has not been established. Their current conditions also remain unknown.
Cornelius addressed the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the incident. “The cause and nature of the exposure are actively being investigated,” he said.
He emphasized the immediate response measures taken. “Out of an abundance of caution, the area has been secured, and relevant safety and emergency response procedures were implemented immediately.”
Cornelius added that the department would release further updates only “as verified information becomes available.”