GAINESVILLE, GA. — At least 5 people were killed and more were injured in a liquid nitrogen leak in Hall County, Georgia on Thursday.
First responders were called to the scene of the Prime Pak Foods processing plant around 10:00 a.m. local time and more than a dozen people were taken to hospitals.
A HAZMAT scene was established shortly after.
Fire officials later said five people were dead and another 10 injured. According to WSB-TV, 130 others were transported to a nearby church to be evaluated.
Some schools in the area went into ‘shelter-in-place’ mode.
Lyman Hall Elem is sheltering n place due to nitrogen leak at nearby poultry plant. Students indoors/safe. Leak contained/not airborne. Memorial Park Highway closed temporarily as officials address the situation. We will notify parents once the shelter in place has been lifted.
— Hall County Schools (@Hall_Schools) January 28, 2021
A press conference is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST
The entire roadway of Memorial Park Drive/Road (from Browns Bridge Rd to Atlanta Hwy) is shut down due to a HAZMAT situation. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes.
— Gainesville Police (@COGPolice) January 28, 2021
We’ve been asked to leave the church where 130 employees were sent for monitoring after the leak. They’re being checked out now. One man told us he was doing fine, but many are concerned about getting In trouble for talking about this incident . @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/npAp6sEOzc
— Nicole Carr (@NicoleCarrWSB) January 28, 2021