NATION : Toxic Gas Leak in Plant Kills 2
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MENDENHALL, Miss. — Toxic gases leaked at a manufacturing plant south of here this morning, killing two workers and injuring six others, authorities said.
There were no reports of an explosion or fire at the Magnatek Inc. plant, which produces transformers for fluorescent lighting.
The cause of the accident has not been determined, plant manager Dennis Kokaisel said.
“This morning between 5:30 and 6 a.m. a maintenance crew of eight men were overcome while working on an annealing furnace,” he said. Such a furnace is used to temper steel.
Gary Hall of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said it appeared that the leaking gases included natural gas, liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen, all toxic.
A sheriff’s dispatcher said she was alerted to the gas leak about 5:40 a.m., and the plant was ordered evacuated.
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