15 Sep 2010

Ammonia leak shuts American Samoa cannery

5:45 pm on 15 September 2010

Another ammonia leak at the StarKist Samoa plant in American Samoa has forced the evacuation of the entire plant.

Production was brought to a halt for about 15 minutes and all employees were ordered out after ammonia leaked from near the area where a compressor is located.

Workers said the ammonia smell was overpowering and with windy weather, residents of Pago Pago village said they also smelled the gas.

The ammonia leak occurred near the same spot where a leak was reported just over a week ago.