Emergency crews respond to ammonia leak at Mississippi fertilizer plant

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(Reuters) -Emergency teams responded on Wednesday to a chemical leak, possibly caused by an explosion, at a fertilizer plant in Central Mississippi, according to Governor Tate Reeves and media reports. No injuries were immediately reported.

A tall cloud of orange vapor could be seen rising over the facility in a photo from the scene of the plant posted online by television station WJTV, a CBS News affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi, the state capital.

The governor identified the leaking chemical as anhydrous ammonia, a toxic substance that can cause irritation to the eyes and lungs.

Fertilizer manufacturer CF Industries said in statement that “all employees and contractors on site at the time of the incident have been safely accounted for, with no injuries reported.”

It said it had notified government officials of an “incident” that occurred at its Yazoo City Complex at about 4:25 p.m. CT (2225 GMT).

Reeves said in a statement posted on social media that state authorities were “actively responding to the anhydrous ammonia leak” at the plant, located about 50 miles (80.5 km) north of Jackson.

“Initial reports indicate the leak is due to an explosion. At this time, no deaths or injuries have been reported,” the governor said.

Personnel from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality were among various teams dispatched to the scene, WJTV reported.

The governor said residents living along two nearby streets should be evacuated, while other residents in the vicinity were encouraged to shelter in place.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Costas Pita in Los Angeles and Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Stephen Coates)