An explosion at a chemical plant in Mississippi on Wednesday caused a dangerous ammonia leak, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents. The incident happened at a CF Industries facility just north of Yazoo City, which manufactures hydrogen and nitrogen products, including ammonia and nitric acid.
Governor Tate Reeves confirmed on social media that emergency teams from across the state rushed to the scene to handle the leak of anhydrous ammonia, a substance commonly used in fertilizer but harmful if inhaled or touched. Despite the dramatic event, no injuries or deaths have been reported. CF Industries also stated that all employees and contractors on site were safely accounted for.
Local resident Andre Robinson, who lives about half a mile from the plant, described hearing a loud boom that shook his home. “It sounded like a sonic boom or a tree crashing down,” he said, recalling the moment he smelled a strong and unusual ammonia odor. He and his family have since left the area and moved to Jackson for safety.
Photos and videos shared online showed a large cloud of yellowish smoke rising from the plant, which includes one ammonia production unit and four nitric acid plants. The facility can store up to 48,000 tons of ammonia, though it’s unclear how much was on site when the explosion occurred.
Officials temporarily closed part of U.S. Route 49E to keep people away from the area. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is actively monitoring the air to ensure the leak no longer poses a risk to public safety.
Yazoo City is a small community located about 50 miles north of Jackson. The quick response from first responders helped prevent injuries, and authorities continue to work on securing the facility and controlling the situation.