A toxic cloud that put the U.S. on alert! Highways and public buildings were closed, and evacuation orders were issued for 17,000 people.

A fire broke out at a chemical plant in the state of Georgia, USA. Officials stated that the colorful smoke rising from the plant could be extremely harmful to human health, and evacuations in the area have begun.

According to a post by the Georgia Department of Transportation on X, interstate roads near the plant have been completely closed. Local sources reported that traffic was congested due to vehicles reversing after the road closures.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE SPRINKLER HEAD MALFUNCTIONED

Marian McDaniel, the Fire Chief of Rockdale County where the burning factory is located, made a press statement. She said the fire occurred around 5 a.m. on Sunday due to a malfunction of a sprinkler head at a facility belonging to Conyers BioLab. McDaniel stated that some chemicals reacted violently with water, causing an explosion when mixed with water gushing from the broken sprinklers. She mentioned that there were still workers in the facility, but no injuries were reported.

"THERE ARE CHEMICALS IN THE SMOKE"

Local sources reported that the chemical cloud rising from the factory could be seen from 50 kilometers away. McDaniel stated, "When we manage to remove the chemical that forms the toxic cloud from the building and allow it to burn in a controlled manner, we will be in a much better situation." She also mentioned that she was not sure which chemicals were present in the smoke.

A representative from Conyers BioLab spoke to the press, stating, "As Conyers, we are actively responding to the incident at our facility in Georgia." The representative added, "No injuries have been reported among our employees. Our team is on-site, working with first responders and local authorities to assess and control the situation."

EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED FOR 17,000 PEOPLE

Evacuation orders were issued for people in the northern part of Rockdale County, north of the factory. Those who could not comply with the evacuation order were advised to shelter in their homes by closing their windows and doors. Christine Nesbitt, a spokesperson for the local police department, stated that an evacuation order was issued for 17,000 people, but she did not know how many had complied with the order. All public buildings in the area, except for hospitals and police stations, were closed.