Auburndale: A dramatic scene unfolded in Polk County Wednesday morning, when an Ammonia tank at a Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plant located at 705 Main Street South in Auburndale sprung a leak. Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly after 10:15 a.m., where contractors had been conducting maintenance. An intimidating 20,000-pound Ammonia tank had caused panic among officials with the City of Auburndale, as hazmat teams prepared to neutralize the hazardous leak.

A chemical leak at a bottling plant caused an emergency today, with authorities releasing around 20,000 pounds of Ammonia. While the vapor was allowed to escape into the surrounding neighborhood for nearly three hours, the liquid was fortunately contained onsite. This sparked a shelter-in-place order for residents and business owners within a two-block distance from the plant. After three gruelling hours of effort, the leak was finally stopped.

“I knew something was up in the air, something was wrong,”

Fuentes lives next to the plant and shared what he smelled after stepping outside.

“It was kind of like wells when you smell that egg type smell, said residents.

There were no reports of injuries within the plant, however, a few people outside the area complained of smelling something unpleasant. According to Auburndale Fire Department's Deputy Chief David Cash, those affected decided not to seek medical help.

Thankfully there were no serious injuries reported following a leak at The Coca-Cola Company. Employees working nearby did seek medical attention for minor eye and throat irritations, and the company acted quickly to contain the leak. The safety of their people and nearby residents remains their top priority.

“We apologize to the workers and area residents for the inconvenience this may have caused them, and we greatly appreciate the quick and effective response from the city and county emergency services teams.”