USA TODAY
A liquid nitrogen leak at a northeast Georgia poultry plant killed six people Thursday and hospitalized 11 others in an incident officials called devastating and a tragedy.
At least three of those injured at the Foundation Food Group plant in Gainesville were reported in critical condition.
Poultry plants rely on refrigeration systems that can include liquid nitrogen. Firefighters, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the state fire marshal were investigating the cause of the leak. I would definitely ask everyone to keep the families in your prayers, Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch said during a press conference. A lot of these folks that came into work today didn t have any idea of what would happen, nor did their families. They’re not in a profession that you would expect something like this to happen, but here we are.
At least six people were killed and 12 hospitalized on Thursday after a suspected liquid nitrogen leak at a poultry plant in the U.S. state of Georgia, police and fire services officials said.
Six people were pronounced dead following the incident. Author: LaPorsche Thomas Updated: 9:27 AM CST January 30, 2021
GAINESVILLE, Ga. Authorities have released the names of the six people that died Thursday following the Gainesville plant s liquid nitrogen leak.
According to the Hall County Sheriff s Office press release, the victims include five men and one woman:
Jose DeJesus Elias-Cabrera, 45, of Gainesville
Corey Alan Murphy, 35, of Clermont
Nelly Perez-Rafael, 28, of Gainesville
Saulo Suarez-Bernal, 41, of Dawsonville
Victor Vellez, 38, of Gainesville
Edgar Vera-Garcia, 28, of Gainesville
Authorities were called to Foundation Food Group, previously known as Prime Pak Foods on Memorial Park Drive Thursday to respond to the scene. Several others were taken to the hospital, including a few firefighters. Authorities said the preliminary investigation shows a nitrogen line ruptured.
Sheriff s deputies, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the state fire marshal were investigating the deaths and cause of the leak.
6 Killed, Others Injured In Liquid Nitrogen Leak At Georgia Poultry Plant
KEY POINTS
Five of the victims died at the plant and another die in the emergency room
Liquid nitrogen can be potentially harmful when it displaces the oxygen in the air
Six people were killed while 11 were sent to the hospital due to a liquid nitrogen leak at a poultry plant in northeastern Georgia.
The incident happened at around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Hall Country Fire Services spokesman Zach Brackett said as per
Reuters. By the time the first responders arrived at the site, many of the workers were already gathered outside the poultry plant.