Yazoo City, MS — An explosion at a hydrogen and nitrogen manufacturing plant in Yazoo City caused an anhydrous ammonia leak on Wednesday, forcing nearby residents to evacuate and prompting an extensive emergency response from state and local officials.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that multiple emergency teams were on-site at the CF Industries facility, located just north of Yazoo City.
“Thank you to all of Mississippi’s first responders and emergency managers for quickly responding to the leak,” Reeves said.
Massive Response After Explosion
The explosion triggered a visible yellowish smoke plume above the chemical complex, which houses an ammonia plant and four nitric acid plants. Officials said the site can store up to 48,000 tons of ammonia, though it was unclear how much was present at the time of the blast.
According to NBC News, the incident prompted immediate evacuations for residents within a half-mile radius of the facility.
CF Industries released a statement confirming that no injuries or fatalities were reported and that all employees and contractors had been safely accounted for.
“There are no injuries, and all employees and contractors on site at the time of the incident have been safely accounted for,” the company said.
Eyewitness Accounts from Nearby Residents
Local residents described hearing a loud explosion that shook homes and caused panic throughout the area. Andre Robinson, who lives roughly half a mile from the facility, said he and his son were cooking dinner when they heard what sounded like a sonic boom.
“There was a boom and then the house shook,” Robinson recalled.
When he stepped outside, Robinson saw smoke rising from the plant and immediately noticed a strong ammonia odor in the air.
“We’re used to the ammonia smell, but not that bad,” he said, noting that his family decided to evacuate to Jackson shortly after.
Road Closures and Air Quality Monitoring
Part of U.S. Route 49E was temporarily shut down as crews worked to contain the leak and assess potential hazards. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality reported that air monitoring operations are underway and will continue “as long as necessary to ensure public safety.”
Officials stressed that the anhydrous ammonia gas, commonly used as fertilizer, poses significant health risks. Contact with it in gas or liquid form can cause severe burns and respiratory irritation.
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigation
Yazoo City, a small community located about 50 miles north of Jackson, has been temporarily disrupted by the evacuation order and road closures. Authorities have not yet confirmed what triggered the initial explosion, and environmental teams continue to evaluate potential contamination in the area.
“Air monitoring operations are ongoing and will continue as long as necessary,” the state’s environmental department said in a public statement.
CF Industries and state environmental agencies are expected to release additional updates once the leak is fully contained.
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