Ammonia leak at southern New Mexico’s Stampede Meat plant prompts evacuations

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico -- A southern New Mexico meatpacking plant was evacuated Tuesday morning due to an ammonia leak, authorities and witnesses said.

The leak at the Stampede Meat plant at 5701 McNutt Road, along the Santa Teresa/Sunland Park border, broke out overnight and the building was evacuated after morning shift workers complained of exposure to the chemical fumes.

Sunland Park firefighters said the leak was isolated and there were no serious injuries reported.

The New Mexico State Police were investigating the incident, but there was no immediate word on what triggered it.

Stampede garnered attention during the pandemic when there was a significant coronavirus outbreak at the facility that prompted a temporary closure of the plant to be ordered by New Mexico regulators.