MAY 28, 2015
BORGER, TEXAS (AP)
Ten people were taken to hospitals after an ammonia gas leak
at a chemical plant in the Texas Panhandle.
The incident happened about 4:15 p.m. Thursday at the Agrium
Inc. plant in Borger, about 40 miles northeast of Amarillo.
Borger police Lt. Brandon Strope says the 10 people, all
employees, were taken to Panhandle hospitals by ambulance and helicopter. He also
says plant officials say the gas release is contained and poses no danger to
the surrounding community.
Plant manager Gill Craig says of the 10 taken to nearby
Golden Plains Community Hospital, two were transferred to Northwest Texas
Healthcare System hospital in Amarillo in stable condition.
It was unclear if
the other eight workers were admitted to Golden Plains. A message left with its
spokeswoman Thursday night wasn't returned.
STATEMENT FROM THE AGRIUM, INC. MANAGEMENT
Borger, Texas ammonia leak Incident Update
May 28, 2015
Agrium experienced a small ammonia release at its Borger,
Texas nitrogen facility this afternoon that has impacted some of our contract
workers on site.
At approximately 4:15 pm Central Time, an ammonia pump
leaked while being prepared for the restart of operations. We were able
to quickly secure the situation with no impact on the local
community. Thirteen workers were exposed, and 10 have been transported to
the hospital for evaluation.
The workers impacted were working on the construction area
of the facility at the north end of the site. Plant operations
personnel are working with the state police, local fire department and
regulatory agencies to deem the plant safe and reopen the local roads.
We will update you as soon as we are apprised of the
condition of the impacted workers.
Our thoughts are with the injured workers and their
families.