Associated Press
WASECA, Minn. — An ammonia leak has sickened 21 employees of a vegetable canning plant in Waseca.
Fire Chief Gary Conrath says an emergency valve apparently sent liquid ammonia spilling onto the roof of Birds Eye Foods at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Ammonia vapors were then pushed back inside by the wind and were inhaled by employees.
The sickened employees went to area hospitals. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
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The factory is in a residential area, but no residents were injured.
The plant employs 94 full-time workers and hundreds more at times. It was expected to reopen Wednesday night.
