Fire at Oregon seafood plant triggers evacuation over ammonia leak risk

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - Authorities in the US state of Oregon ordered emergency evacuations across a 1.6-kilometer (1-mile) radius on Sunday following a fire and potential ammonia contamination at a seafood processing facility.

"It's going to be a long operation," Newport Fire Chief Rob Murphy told the Lincoln Chronicle, a local newspaper, confirming that emergency crews detected ammonia in acrid smoke billowing from the Pacific Seafood plant.

Murphy noted that the building suffered a partial roof collapse after 40 firefighters from across Lincoln County deployed to the commercial bayfront area following the initial emergency call at 8.51 am local time (1551GMT).

City officials established an emergency shelter at a local elementary school, advising nearby residents to remain indoors or wear protective masks outside. No injuries were reported, while the exact concentration of ammonia contamination remains unconfirmed.

Muhammed Yasin Güngör