Gulf Coast Evacuated Following Ammonia Leak

February 24, 2003

Gulf Coast Evacuated Following Ammonia Leak
Hundreds of tourists were evacuated Sunday along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the Gulfport-Biloxi airport was closed for seven hours due to an ammonia leak at a chemical plant.

According to CNN.com, tourists in the Gulf Coast area were advised to head north following the ammonia leak. The evacuation lasted from about 2:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and affected several hotels and restaurants along the Mississippi shore. Officials also closed a portion of Interstate 10 and a 3-mile section of U.S. 49. Residents in the area were advised to remain indoors.

Police suspect someone attempted to steal the chemical to possibly make illegal drugs. Ammonia of this nature is highly explosive and can irritate human skin and airways, even causing a fatal reaction.

To learn more, visit CNN.com