CURRY COUNTY, NM — A chemical spill at the Southwest Cheese Plant, located 8 miles south of Clovis, left 20 employees injured on Monday morning and sent 14 to the hospital.
The incident happened after an “equipment malfunction” produced a toxic gas as acid spilled and mixed with chlorine.
According to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, emergency responders were called to the facility at the 1100 block of Curry Road 4 around 9:15 a.m. The spill involved 8.67 gallons of acid and 0.61 gallons of chlorine. The combination created hazardous fumes that spread through parts of the factory.
14 injured workers were transported by ambulance and private car to Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis and Roosevelt General Hospital in Portales. The extent of their injuries is unclear, but CCSO did not report any fatalities.
The Clovis Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team was called to help contain the situation, and the New Mexico State Police are assisting with the cleanup of the chemical spill.
The CCSO reassured the public that the leak had been contained and that the surrounding area was not in further danger.
The cause of the spill is still under investigation, and authorities are trying to determine what malfunction caused the accident.
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