GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Twenty-nine workers at a Tennessee cheese factory were sent to the hospital Wednesday morning after a leak of anhydrous ammonia, Greeneville City Manager Todd Smith said at a news conference.
The Greeneville Fire Department was first called to La Quesera Mexicana at 7:15 a.m. when a leak occurred during maintenance on a valve. Six people were in hospital at the time.
“The leak was stopped and repaired at that time. And the scene was certified as safe,” Smith said.
However, at 10:01 a.m. a second call about a leak came in. Another 23 people were hospitalized and 53 other employees were being investigated for possible illness, Smith said. Anhydrous ammonia can irritate or damage the lungs and burn the eyes and skin.
Officials don't yet know if the two leaks came from the same source, Smith said, but the second leak was repaired and there was no risk to the surrounding community.
Ballad Health has set up incident command centers at Greeneville Community Hospital and Johnson City Medical Center to handle the influx of patients, according to a news release from the health system. As of noon, the system was treating 25 patients from the incident.
Medical personnel worked with other responders, including from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.