CANTON, Ga. — Three people are in the hospital after an ammonia leak inside a chicken plant in Canton Wednesday night, fire and EMS officials say.

Cherokee fire officials say they were called to the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken plant on Univeter Road in Canton just after 8 p.m. Wednesday night in reference to an ammonia leak.

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They say 45 employees were inside the building at the time of the leak and got outside and behind the building. All 45 were evaluated by paramedics. Three of them were taken to the hospital. Officials say two of them suffered severe injuries. Their current conditions are unknown.

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Portions of I-575 and Univeter Road were shut down for several hours following the leak.

The pipe that the ammonia was leaking out of has been fixed, but all employees have not yet been allowed back inside the building, officials say.

Cherokee County 911 said it received calls from neighbors and businesses concerned about the smell of ammonia in the area, however, no one was transported to the hospital.

Firefighters began ventilating the area around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

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